ORIGINAL: KitBuilder
I received the great planes 40 size cub kit. I am wanting to clip the wings. It seems the kit does not offer the vertical support struts whether building the full span or clpped wing. Do most builders add these? This is what I'm looking to duplicate instead of the usual clipped wing color design...
The vertical struts are called "Jury Struts". Their purpose is to prevent the main struts from bending or folding in the middle under load (Negative G's). They are easy to add and I wouldn't think of flying a larger model without them. Some of the smaller planes omit the jury struts due to the strength of the main strut and their relatively short length.
Another consideration with struts is are they functional? Many models had the struts for appearance only. On my Sig 1/5 Scale Cub the struts are functional. Without them the wings would fold immediately. The two wing halves are in no way connected to one another. Like the real Cub this use of the struts creates an extremely strong airframe. The stress of the wings lift is spread out around the fuselage instead of concentrated into the middle of the wing.
Good luck with your projects,
Phil