RCU Forums - View Single Post - Building the original Byron P-51 Mustang
Old 06-29-2013 | 12:58 PM
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HUNTERANDJEFF
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From: E. Wenatchee, WA
Default RE: Building the original Byron P-51 Mustang

Here is some pictures of the completed wing before glassing. The spackling is done and is ready for glass. I really wanted to at least get the ailerons and flaps totally installed before glassing because I knew that I would have to trim the trailing ege of the flap hinge covers in order to fit the wing to the fuselage. Although the directions call for glassing before this step, I chose to complete the wing and install the wing before glassing and I am sure glad I did that. If I were to follow the directions to a tee, I would have glassed the wing and then had to cut up all that glass work to intall the wing.
Some people would wonder if the spackling would degrade the structural integrity of the wing when it is going to be glassed and the answer is yes if the spackling is too thick. If it is too thick, the laminating resin will not soak completely through it and into the foam and it could just pull away. I was aware of this when I used this light weight spackle. It is on there very thin. so thin in some areas where it is hard to see if it is even there. So, the resin will soak through it and into the foam creating a very lightweight and stong bond. Then the wing was sanded with a t-bar flat. I DID NOT do any shaping. just sanded enough to make the surfaces even and flat where they are supposed to be. Then the wing was installed on the plane, taped down and the aileron and flap trailing edges were trimmed to shape. The last thing to do was to sand the thickness of the ailerons and flaps to match the width of the hinge covers and to install the inboard flap supports. These supports were way off and I had to make several of them to get the hole drilled in the right spot. One would put the flap up to high the other would anchor it too low. Thank goodness I have a band saw and big belt sander LOL! When this was done, I was rewarded with a 3/32" gap on the top of the ailerons/flap hinge cover line and on the bottom. this leaves me just enough room for 1 layer of 2oz cloth.

be sure to follow this video documentary on youtube. It has alot more detail than what I am describing here.
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U
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