Wing warp help
#1
Thread Starter

My Feedback: (175)
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Mackinaw,
IL
I built a tiger 60 from a kit and after covering it, I found I warped the wing. The trims have to be set all the way to the left for it to be trimed. This was my first kit build. What is the best way to get the wing stright again
#2
Unsheeted wings (like your Tiger) can be twisted with covering, as you have discovered. Luckily it's just as easy to untwist them. All you need to do this is your heat gun. To do it accurately you should also have an incidence meter. The meter is a good investment but you can also make a simple meter from balsa and use a line level on it. I've included a picture of one I made when I needed a second meter. Note that the left vertical piece is a snug, slip fit on the cross bar.
Block the plane up and put the meter on the wing next to the fuselage. Adjust the plane so your level shows the bubble centered. Then move the meter to the wing tip and determine which way you need to twist the wing.
Take the wing off the plane and twist it by hand until the covering wrinkles. Use your heat gun to restretch the covering on both sides. Use the meter to check for twist again and you will find that you have moved the surface. Repeat as necessary to get the wing to the desired twist. Do each wing panel separately and make sure they are the same.
Dave
Block the plane up and put the meter on the wing next to the fuselage. Adjust the plane so your level shows the bubble centered. Then move the meter to the wing tip and determine which way you need to twist the wing.
Take the wing off the plane and twist it by hand until the covering wrinkles. Use your heat gun to restretch the covering on both sides. Use the meter to check for twist again and you will find that you have moved the surface. Repeat as necessary to get the wing to the desired twist. Do each wing panel separately and make sure they are the same.
Dave
#7
Senior Member
My Feedback: (4)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Blackfoot ,
ID
What type of covering are you using, Also when doing a twist with the covering one should hold it in the twisted shape untill the covering has a chance to cool off, (30 secs or so ) Other wise the wing will just pull the hot covering right back where it was. Since you have nothing to loose but everything to gain I would try it again, Over twist the wing past where you want it shrink it and hold for approx 30 secs then recheck and see if things moved. Make sure you cover both sides while shrinking ,doing just one side at a time will do nothing.
Hint most of the time if the wing is very bad you need 2 people to hold it and some gloves so you won't get burned.
Hint most of the time if the wing is very bad you need 2 people to hold it and some gloves so you won't get burned.




