I got a few things done this past weekend. I finished most of the back feathers (stab, fin and rudder). I decided, since the stabilizer is 3/8" thick and the fin/rudder only 1/4", to add 1/6" balsa on both sides of the rudder. This mean I had to order another piece for the rudder (that is not 1/4" but 3/8"). Here is the result from my attempt. It may add a little weight, but I cannot see why the stab and rudder two were not the same thickness from the start.

All I have to do is add the hinges and the tail-wheel hook (if I am going to do that and not let the wheel turn freely - have not decided what to do here, yet). I am still working on the elevators, to get them equal size and shape.

In the mean time, I have also started the top wing. This is the progress of that:

Instead of using the supplied two 1/4"x1/2"x24" balsa sticks for the bottom spar, I used a 48" basswood piece from my own supply. I just think it would be stronger for the needed support and do not think the weight difference will be that much, compared to the added strength. As you can see in the font of the above picture (and below), I also strengthen the P2 mounts with a equivalent cut-out piece of Carbon Fiber.
After I glued both pieces together I realized I should have instead glued the CF onto the same side as the blind-nut or ultimately, to get the most strength would be to sandwich the plywood between two CF plates - but I was not not that enthusiastic.

Below you can see the progress of the top wing. The first pic was to hold it down before gluing the top sheeting in place and the second on was after the top sheeting was in place, I discovered a little upward twist at both tips - which I am trying to straighten out (second picture) with some weight. It's not a lot, (about 1/6") and it all happen after the top sheeting was glued in place. I recall although the edge of the sheet was straight, it had a weird twist in the sheet. So I soaked the whole wing with spayed on water and let it dry. Hopefully it will cure. The last resort to fix this, will be when I place the bottom sheeting on the make sure everything is straight. But it still is strange, since my work board is totally flat!


More to come as I progress with the top wing.