PBM Mariner
Sparkie:
Agreed, there is _nada_ wrong with foam wing construction. With R/C sailplanes, where the wings have to withstand a hundred pounds of tension on the winch line on launch, the wings have to withstand several hundred pounds of loading and not fail. Sailplane wings are the lightest and strongest made.
And my Zagi slope plane has withstood crashes that would discombobulate a built-up wing.
I think that "bad press" on foam wings is that many trainers and park-flyers use that wing construction and it ain't regarded as serious.
I'll confess, I love building and get a thrill out of seeing a wing build up from ribs, spars and cap-strips, but I've got a couple of projects in the works that will use a foam-core wing.
Nice PBM! One of my long-standing desires is a PBY Catalina, and later, a CL215.