High Quality Plan Sets and Laser Cut Partial Kits for Radio Control
Aircraft
Page 7
Carl Goldberg's 1938 Comet Clipper
Bottom sheeting installed. Note that the sheeting stops at the
inner edge of the stabilizer perimeter parts. The upper sheeting
was also modified to
this join to conform
to
the plan. Operator error! Otherwise the fit to the saddle on
the fuselage will be off. When sanding the stabilizer, most of the
1/16 X 1/4 ribs will be removed
but the plan is to leave as much as possible for better strength.
The final test fit. The fin
and stabilizer will be covered before final assembly.
All of the ribs have
marks that align with the front edge of the trailing edge parts and the
aft side of the leading edge parts. To allow gluing of the leading
and trailing edge parts without gluing to the "feet" that
they rest on half circle reliefs have been cut in the gluing areas.
The first step is to slide the upper spars through all the ribs of the
inner wing. A slightly loose fit makes for easier assembly.
This can be done by rubbing the spars in each spar slot just
to wear away a little material. If the spars fit too tight you will
not have a good time with this part. The spars here were stripped
out of 3/32 basswood sheet using a dremel table saw.
Cutting
the
main spars. Note that the blade is set to just barely reach
through the wood. This will give the smoothest cuts. The
board clamped to the saw was spaced from the blade by placing a known 3/8 wide block between it and the
blade. A test cut was made and was trial fitted in a rib.
When the proper width was set, spars were cut.
With
the
left hand holding the outer end of the basswood upper spars, ribs are
slid on from the butt end. When all of the ribs are
spaced about right, slip the balsa first and third spars in from the
butt end. This was a little tedious getting everything in the
approximate right places, but once done the wing becomes self jigging.
Build
the
spar fence using the laser cut 3/32 ply base and angle plates and 1/8
scrap balsa. Pin the fence down next to the line on the plan as
shown. This is the center of the middle rib. If you are
building a two piece wing you will have to space it back 1/32".
Two #1 ribs are supplied for constructing a two part wing with joiners
at the middle but you will have to engineer the joiners yourself.
After making sure the inner wing section is over the plan
accurately, pin down the #10 rib and using a hot glue gun glue the spars
to the spar fence as shown. Make sure the main spar is all the way
up in the top of the slot in the #3 and #4 ribs so there is room for the
reinforcing spar that will be installed later.
The
#
10 rib pinned down. Note the pin sticking through the base at the
rear of the rib. There should also be one at the front of the rib,
that one was added after this photo. The spars are longer
than they need to be at this point, they will be cut to length in a
later step.
Once
all
the ribs are in position and perpendicular to the building board, apply
Titebond III to the intersections. Be careful not to get glue into
the slots for the upper spar doubler that will be installed later in the
#3 and #4 ribs.
