High Quality Plan Sets and Laser Cut Partial Kits for Radio Control
Aircraft
Page 15
Henry Struck's 1937 Benny Boxcar in 108 inch span
The fully sheeted and capstripped center wing section. 1/16 X 3/8
spruce was used for the capstrip at the wing join to prevent the covering
from pulling it in.
Sand the leading edge at the tips to conform to the curve of the ribs and
receive the sheeting.
Clamp the leading edge sheeting to the spar and draw it down to the leading
edge. Use an aluminum extrusion or other flat bar to apply even
pressure. Titebond is used
here so there is time to make sure the sheet is pulled tight against
the ribs. Only glue the straight portion of the leading edge at this
time. Next glue the sheeting to the spar,
shimming between the sheeting and the spar with strips of 1/16 X 3/16
balsa. Let the strips extend aft of the sheeting so there is a place
for the capstrips to land later. Be sure
the sheeting is well glued to the spar and leading edge, and to the ribs in
that area, before you work on the tip area. Depending on the
stiffness of the balsa sheeting
you may have to make a spanwise slice in the sheeting in order to get
it to lay down on the compound curves at the tip. On one side I did,
on the other the balsa compressed enough to glue down to the spar after the
leading edge was glued. Let the curved tip leading edge cure before
attaching the sheeting to the ribs and spar.
1/16 balsa shear webs are installed on both sides of the center section main
spars here.
