RE: Vailly Aviation Stinson L5 Sentinel quarter scale build
April 27, 2013 The hardware arrived in 2 days! Wow! That was fast. Both the blind nuts and the inserts are way deeper then the rib they go into. I don't think it will matter if they aren't flush with the rib root since the bolts have to pass thru both the fuse side and a 1/4 inch think root rib which will be on the inside of the fuse.
Anyway, I have not done anything with the hardware yet, except put it away. I did get started on the right wing, gluing the ribs th the bottom spars from the outboard to the inboard using thin CA. Not quite done yet. Note that I have doubled the sophistication of my wing rib squaring jig. LOL!
Not sure if I mentioned this, but I did shape the leading edge of the left wing.
Rick
"Originally Posted by TomCrump View Post
What thickness is the inside rib on the wing ? If it were mine, I would want it to be thick enough for the insert/blind nut, to be flush."
Exactly. The rib, which is laminated aircraft ply and lite ply, is 3/16th, and the shaft of the blind nut is 5/16th, a substantial difference. I think I will laminate a piece of 1/8th thick balsa to the inside of the rib. Probably not required, as the wings will attach to the fuse side which has a thickness of nearly 3/8ths itself, but it will eliminate the blind nut shaft sticking out. Of course, that means I have to decide if I want to do something about the rib already sealed up under the sheeting....
May 2, 2013 The continuing saga of the Vailly Stinson...
The right wing continues to take shape on the board. I add a few glue joints most days. Will be installing the root rib soon, WITH blind nuts installed! Just now, as I write this, I glued the dihedral webs in place on the fore and aft spars.
I decided to cut into the left wing to install blind nuts as well as the spacers for better fit. Pieces of the 3/32nds sheeting were a perfect thickness to add and the blind nuts were squeezed into place with a pair of water pump pliers. I used thick CA on the nuts and a piece of scrap balsa to protect the outside of the root rib from plier damage. Moving right along!!
May8 2013 I have been slacking big time! But with the nice weather, I have been busy flying too. Got to dust off my "show planes" and get them ready for the season. The possibility of having the Stinson at this years WOD is getting slimmer and slimmer.
Wing number 2 is at the point where I need to install the slot sheeting. This morning I steamed them into shape. If I am not too tired when I get home from work tonight, I will commit glue!
May 12, 2013 As my weekend comes to a close and my bedtime draws nigh, I wanted to write a few words. I have been busy (for me!) at the build. Yesterday, Saturday, May 11th, was rainy all day so I stayed in and kept pretty much at it. I have made the left wing a priority with the last wing control, the right flap, a high second. All wing spars are in place, and so is the slot rear sheeting. The forward slot formers are all in place. These parts were a weak spot in the design as they break at the narrows requiring them to be installed in 2 pieces, and of course the small pieces get lost easily so I had to fabricate 2 of them. I have to sheet the forward side of the slots and then install the leading edge. The wing trailing edge is in place and glue drying under clamps as I type. Leading edge will come as soon as I get the slot sheeting finished. I assembled the right flap along the way. It isn't quite done yet. I need more clamps!
While the above was going on, I grabbed the left wing and glued in the flap hinges after drilling out the holes to fit the 2-56 bolts which will be the pivot points. Then I attached the flap to check for fit. It wasn't too bad. The 2 outside hinges lined up good but the middle one was slightly off center. I had to add a spacer of 3/32 balsa between one side of the hinge mount in the wing, and I will need an equal sized spacer in the hinge joint itself. But it was fun seeing the flap in place and moving it up and down!
Tally ho!!!!