LesW

I am stuck for ideas on wing locks to hold the wing panels together, wing plan is a three panel 1.8m span 260mm chord. (three panel approach is to do with transporting the plane)
I have looked at the Multiplex wing retainer system but I am not too keen on them.
Are there any other options or home made ideas for consideration?
Thanks

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Is this a sailplane or a powered airplane? What are the wing joiners made out of? Providing more details will help giving you an answer.

LesW

Ok and thanks, plane is a powered glider, flying weight is looking like it will come in a 1.7kg with 3S battery, wings are XPS foam core with balsa skin, wing joiners are 10mm woven carbon fibre tube set 10cm into each panel with solid 0.312” aluminium bar 20cm long inside. It’s a no slop fit of the bar into the cf tube. incidence peg is to the trailing edge side and is a short 4mm steel tube.

GREG DOE

Some of us are using magnets on our EF-1 racers. at 115 mph there hasn't been any problems.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Magnets are a great idea but I don't think I would rely on them alone. Reason being is that on Greg's EF1 airplanes that joint is in the wake of the fuselage. Your wing joint will be in clean airflow and it does not take too much air in a joint to seperate the panels. I would either install a couple magnets AND apply electrical tape on the joint or just go with the tape alone.

LesW

Thanks guys, I like the magnets idea, I have used neodymium magnets to hold templates before and they were very strong but needed an interface between them to help separate the magnet from the surface. I have some thin plastic wedges and will do some tests. The tape idea will be looked into as well. My old planes 30+ years back just had rubber bands and I am wanting something else.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

This is how I did it on one three piece project a while back
Scratch built CL-415 (Only a 12 year break)

LesW

Thanks, the wing strap approach is good and I will look at that, looks like I need to revisit my build plans in future so as to prep the wing better in the build stage. This current build idea has not worked out and I am now going to work on a retro fit probably using magnets and tape.
I have returned to RC modelling after 30+ years and this is my second set of foam core wings, looks like I am making some mistakes.
Appreciate the replies.