Wing Wire connections
 

Hello All!
I purchased a Ryan STA ARF made by Sportsman Aviation. The Ryan has one wing strut on top of each wing and also two wing wires on each wing. The wires are surface mounted out on the wing and then attach to the fuselage at the same point as the strut. The directions just call for wrapping the wire around the wood screw that attaches the strut to the fuse. Seems pretty weak to me and I see grief in my future because I'll be taking that screw out every time I take the plane down.

Is there a kit or fittings available whereby I can make a much better attachment? Something more substantial than that measly screw? I believe the struts are adding strength to the wing attachment but it looks like the wires are just for looks. Its possible I may leave them off but I'd like to have them if I can attach them in a better way. Thanks for the help.

RE: Wing Wire connections
 

Try soldering a small loop on the inboard end of the wing wires and when you screw the struts to the fuselage run the screws through the loops. The outboad end can remain attached to the wing.

RE: Wing Wire connections
 

you can do the above or use a small ring connecter either soldered or crimped on the wire.its hard to say whether the struts are functional or not.any clues in the manual or what are they made off.most of the time they are just for looks.

RE: Wing Wire connections
 

I also fitted wires to my 1:5 scale Ryan PT20, but as they were only for show I did the following:
Bend four thin brass tubes to the correct angle and glue through fuselage just above the struts. (see the drawing and photo of the real one)
Using plastic coated fishing trace fabricate four landing wires. Pass them through the brass tubes and connect each pair to a stiff spring inside the fuselage.
Crimp a small hook onto the outer ends. The wires can then be tensioned and hooked over a small screw on the wing.
Looks scale, keeps wires tight yet are very easily and quickly removed when dismantling the wing. (the brass tubes can be made to look like cable end connectors)
On the outer ends I have used small plastic coffee spoons as cable end covers. Painted to the correct colour they look quite scale.

RE: Wing Wire connections
 

Here is a photo of my Ryan showing what it looks like

RE: Wing Wire connections
 

Some good ideas here. I think I'll come up with something. The wing struts appear to be made of a piece of plywood laminated to a piece of plastic, then covered with vinyl. Thank you all.