I'm Building a Weeks Solution X Biplane. I want to set it up to do 3D. My question is, on the tail surfaces should I put a 45 degree bevel on the control surfaces only l< or should I bevel both the control and the fixed surfaces. >< . I've seen it done both ways, what are the pros and cons.

I prefer a 30 degree on the control surface and a fifteen degree on the trailing edge of the stab and fin (aileron is fine at 10 and 25).

This prevents from having a very delicate, sharp bevel face on the control surface. The other reason I do this is because when control surfaces on large aircraft are very thick at the hinge line, it helps to keep the horn forwards to the pivot line. Beveling a 2" thick control surface 45 degrees means the horn must be mounted 1" behind the hinge line.

Mark

Hey there,

I was in the shop with my cousin the other day (Warren Thomas), and he was building an airplane, and he said that the double bevel ( >< ) is better because you can eek a little more throw that way, and if it is just beveled on one side, he showed me that there will be a little "ridge" that the control surface makes. An example of this I mean that the aileron on the wing will be about 1/8 of an inch higher than the wing. I don't know how big of an aerodynamic disadvantage that this would pose, but it looks better in my opinion.