I got a balsa Stearman P-T17 model kit from Guillows. This is my first balsa model and I have run into a snag.

Attached is a diagram of the directions that came with it.

1. is the left part of the wing as shown in the plans. this is basically what the plan looks like and what you are use as a real size guide when gluing the balsa together. make note of the rib shown here. as well as section A and section B. section B is a rectangular block of balsa, not a thin sheet.

2. is a side view of the rib shown in 1.

3. is a side view of the rib shown in 1 as it is attached to section A. notice that you must bend the wood upwards to insert in the groove of the rib.

the problem here is that since you have to bend section A upwards, its now not long enough to reach section B. but you have to bend A upwards to fit it in the groove of the rib.

am i doing something wrong? the directions weren't that good in this area. it basically just tells you to glue it according to the plans.

i would guess the kit cuz alot of the kits i made from guillows were not accurate in parts, but sterling has been really good. They give the balsa sticks for fuselage stringers and they give the stringers for the wrong kit! they were to be 16 inch and they were 12.

sorry i forgot to include the pic. duh

im sorry, that drawing makes no sence whatsoever. a cant possibly have those 2 dimentions

im lost. my sugestion haveing guild gilows and hating every minut of it is (aside from making a nice fire an making smores) is to just buy some balsa and patch it up.

have you seen this type of design before? im just concerned that i am interpreting the design incorrectly.
is the stearman pt17 wing supposed to be flat?

if i am not, then maybe i just put the pieces together sloppy

from experiance, those planes never fit "right" but maybe if you scaned the plans so we could see ? (unless those wer the plans then i go back to smores)

The drwing is ok the directions are wrong, #2 picture is the rib and leading edge, #1 is the top view of the whole assembly, #3 is the side view of the rib,leadin edge,and trailing edge w/wing tip. The A part in the top view is the remaining wood piece used to make the trailing edge/wing tip assembly that is shown in the side view as assembly "A". I have one of these in the closet and could check the plans to help you out if you want.
E-mail me.
Ray