Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pylon Universe - RC Pylon Racing >> QM-40 Racing >> Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process
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Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/13/2007 10:02:02 PM   
oddy


 

Posts: 178
Joined: 5/29/2003
From: Mexico city, MEXICO
Status: offline 		Hi Everyone

Im trying to do some experimentation with different Q40 airfoils, for which I want to build some Foam/Balsa Q40 wings.
(Concient that this building technique will not allow me to have a perfect finishing for evaluating the full potential of each airfoil)

I have the following questions.

1.- Each Foam Core (Left & Right) are supposed to be planked and then center glued or foam cores are supposed to be joined together first and then planked????

2.- They are supposed to be reinforced both with Carbon Fiber all along the wingspan and a balsa/Triplay spar at the center of the wing.

3.- How many Layers of Fiberglass cloth at the center section?

Thanks in advance for your help, any advice on this kind of wings construction will be highly appreciated.

Victor Arreola.




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If I say that the Burra is Prieta is because I have the pelos in my hand.
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/14/2007 1:02:00 AM   
Ed Smith


 

Posts: 2837
Joined: 12/29/2001
From: Brantford, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		I build my own Q40s. I use foam core wings. Step by step this is what I do.

I cut the cores.

I make up four skins. I glue the edges of the sheets with a glue that sands well. The edges of the sheets are not always the exactsame thickness. When the glue has dried I use an orbital sander and sand both sides of all the sheets smooth. It does not take much to do this.

I apply the skins t the cores with epoxy resin and vacuum bag. When applying the skins I add a 1" strip of 2oz cloth under the top and bottom skin at the trailing edge. This gives me a stiff hard edge so I can sand the trailing edge to a sharp profile.

When this stage has all cured I trim excess and add Leading edge and tips.

I sand each half and finish completely. I then join the two halves with an incidence meter on each tip.

I fit wing screw dowels.

I install a wingspar in each half with a centre joiner. the spar positon is at the high point of the wing.The spar is 1/8 liteply with Carbon tow glued both sides. each spar is 15" long. From the bottom I cut a slot for the spar fulll depth to the underside of the top skin. I do one side first, when this has cured I do the other. I then fill and smooth the groove.

If there is a wing mounted landing gear I fit the mounting plates with blind nuts in place. They are 1/8 ply and are glued to the leading edge and spar. The plates are over size. I fill the cavity with a balsa plate thick enough to be sanded flush with the underside airfoil


I glass the top and bottom of the wing all at once. I use the gapless hinge style of aileron, I lay on a pice of 2oz cloth across the centre section just wider than the wing saddle. I lay on a second layer of the same cloth wide enough to cover the landing gear positions and to the inner end of the ailerons. I lay two strips of 2oz from the edge od the second layer to the tips. This is wide enough to create the aileron hinge and overlaps the trailing edge. Apart from the hinge cloth I repeat for the bottom surface. I glass over everything with 3/4 oz cloth and vacuum bag.


I fit the aileron torque rods. Fill and smooth the grooves.

I very carefull cut the underside of the ailerons up to the underside of the top glass hinge material. I clear th aileron leading edge with enough angle to allow for the desired down movement.

I locate the landing gear mounts and fit the landing gear.

The wing is now ready for final sand and prime/paint




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< Message edited by Ed Smith -- 3/14/2007 2:59:06 AM >

(in reply to oddy)
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/14/2007 6:16:25 PM   
oddy


 

Posts: 178
Joined: 5/29/2003
From: Mexico city, MEXICO
Status: offline 		Ed thank you very much for such a detailed explanation,

This will be of great help for me.

Victor Arreola.

_____________________________

If I say that the Burra is Prieta is because I have the pelos in my hand.

(in reply to oddy)
       Post #: 3

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/14/2007 11:22:24 PM   
rmenke


 

Posts: 1784
Joined: 6/25/2004
From: Merced, Ca., CA, USA
Status: offline 		Ed:

Very nice work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(in reply to Ed Smith)
       Post #: 4

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/14/2007 11:56:21 PM   
bigtrev@xtra.co.nz


 

Posts: 251
Joined: 9/25/2004
From: christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Ed, You have written a very good instruction sheet for a foam wing assembly-very clear and should be easy for anyone to follow. thankyou............look forward to seeing you soon at Muncie, regards trevor Henderson

(in reply to rmenke)
       Post #: 5

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/15/2007 12:46:18 AM   
Ed Smith


 

Posts: 2837
Joined: 12/29/2001
From: Brantford, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the kind words.

I will be in Muncie as a spectator. I will sit back in the shade with the appropriate refreshment and watch everybody else beat themselves to death.

Ed S

(in reply to bigtrev@xtra.co.nz)
       Post #: 6

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/15/2007 5:21:00 AM   
bigtrev@xtra.co.nz


 

Posts: 251
Joined: 9/25/2004
From: christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		perhaps I had better bring you some duty free coolant............how good is the coke? Trevor H

(in reply to Ed Smith)
       Post #: 7

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/16/2007 6:45:58 AM   
Kevin Matney



Posts: 175
Joined: 11/29/2003
From: Erie, MI, USA
Status: online 		I'm working on a photo DVD of how to do a wood wing in a Q/500 and Q/40.
What do you think it is worth????? The pics are in Hi res

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< Message edited by Kevin Matney -- 3/16/2007 9:52:01 AM >

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Kevin Matney 2 wrongs don't make a right But 2 Wrights make an Airplane
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(in reply to bigtrev@xtra.co.nz)
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/17/2007 2:33:12 AM   
bigtrev@xtra.co.nz


 

Posts: 251
Joined: 9/25/2004
From: christchurch, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		a couple of bottles of rum.....................trevor h

(in reply to Kevin Matney)
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/24/2007 1:16:33 AM   
Scorpion Racing



Posts: 186
Joined: 1/21/2006
From: Lake Wales, FL, USA
Status: online 		Hey ED Smith,
Have you ever heard of a QM 40 called the "Foxy Lady"? I happen to have a Fuse, Tail and set of foam cores for one and I was wondering about the wing construction. The plans say the drawing is for the standard wing, what is the difference for the competition wing? I thought you would be the one to ask since your name is on the plans!!


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Scott Smith
ssmith@hansonwalter.com

(in reply to Ed Smith)
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/26/2007 3:23:33 AM   
Kevin Matney



Posts: 175
Joined: 11/29/2003
From: Erie, MI, USA
Status: online 		That plane was Danny Kane call him.

_____________________________

Kevin Matney 2 wrongs don't make a right But 2 Wrights make an Airplane
www.Matneymodels.com

(in reply to Scorpion Racing)
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/26/2007 4:56:24 AM   
garys


 

Posts: 756
Joined: 1/31/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Actually, Harold Sattler's Miss Candace was originally called the Foxy Lady, which is probably what he's referring to.

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GS

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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/26/2007 12:49:33 PM   
Scorpion Racing



Posts: 186
Joined: 1/21/2006
From: Lake Wales, FL, USA
Status: online 		You are correct, Gary, I got the glass fuse and tail from H&R with a set of foam cores a couple of years ago. The plans say "Foxy Lady" and is crossed thru and says Miss Candace. On the plot stamp on the lower right side of the title block it has the file location on Ed Smiths computer, or at least in a file called Ed Smith, for the file. That is what I am refering to.

Anyways, should I just build the wing as described above?

Thanks,

< Message edited by Scorpion Racing -- 3/26/2007 12:50:07 PM >


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Scott Smith
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RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/26/2007 5:13:28 PM   
Ed Smith


 

Posts: 2837
Joined: 12/29/2001
From: Brantford, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		There is no mystery here, The Foxy Lady was produced before the Miss Candace. It was one of Harolds, early products. It had a glass fuselage and built up wing and tail surfaces. Harold then produced a composite wing for it. He used the same plans that I drew. The Foxy Lady was superceded by the all composite Miss Candace, I am not sure if it includes a set of plans now.

Ed S

(in reply to Scorpion Racing)
       Post #: 14

RE: Foam/Balsa Q40 wings - building process - 3/26/2007 5:52:36 PM   
Scorpion Racing