Date: October 13, 2007

Work today continued on where I left off last night. First, I fired up the bandsaw and cut 1/8" off the tops of the three plywood ribs. I also cut 1/8" off the bottom of ribs #2 and #3.

Next I fashioned a rip fence, an cut a bunch of 1/8" sheet to a length of 3 - 1/8". The ribs are spaces 3" apart, the extra will allow the sheeting to span the entire width over two adjacent ribs. Next I placed them on the wing under the location of ribs 2 and 3. Once these pieces were in place, I proceeded to glue down the ribs. I took special care to make sure both ribs are securely glued and pressed against the sheeting below it.

NOTE: If building a plane with a standard width fuselage, this sheeting is not enough. See posting of January 8th, 2008. The sheeting between rib 2 and 3 is not enough to reach to the fuselage. An extra balsa rib is necessary, and extra sheeting is needed.

Next I need to start making the trailing edge / aileron front edge stock. First, I marked a vertical line on the end of the wing at the aileron joint. I started looking at the ribs more carefully. I found some 3/8" by 1- 1/2" Trailing edge stock matches the angle of the trailing edge perfectly. My plan is to glue strips on the top and bottom of this stock to make it thick enough. Then glue it between the ribs. I also will need some of this stock between ribs #1 and #2 to provide reinforcement for the wing bolts.

I do not have enough of the trailing edge stock to continue with making the trailing edge. So I will wait. But I did continue building. I went ahead and put the upper spars on the right wing. A few rubber bands were needed to hold the spar tight against the rib. But only in a few places. The spars take a long time to glue up. On each joint, I used a q-tip to wipe away access, or to apply extra to area that doesn't have enough glue. The effect, once complete, will be worth the effort.


Picture 1: Mark where cutting of the bottom of the rib needs to stop.
Picture 2: Use Rib #2 to mark the end of the sheeting. Rib #2 is not glued.
Picture 3: The sheeting in place under rib #2 and #3. Right wing.
Picture 4: Mark the location of wing/aileron on the endmost rib.
Picture 5: Transfer the mark to the top of the rib.
Picture 6: Transfer the mark to the inside of the rib reinforcement.
Picture 7: The lower sheeting and ribs #2 and #3 in place, left wing.
Picture 9: The laminated ribs had a small gab between them, a little glue and clamping.
Picture 10: The laminated ribs had a small gab between them, a little glue and clamping.