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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: bob werle on August 08, 2008, 09:40:55 AM

Title: Foxey
Post by: bob werle on August 08, 2008, 09:40:55 AM

I am starting to build a .15 size stunter from plans called Foxey.  This is a little tapered wing twin boom ship designed for the Fox .15x.  The plans only show the root and tip ribs.  I have never had to make a set of ribs this way.  What is the best way?? 

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: Ralph Wenzel (d) on August 08, 2008, 12:05:31 PM

That was a cute little plane, Bob. The easiest way to make the ribs is:

1) Make templates from plywood or aluminum, and sand them smooth
2) Cut out the appropriate number of blanks (rectangles slightly larger than the root template), and enough for the entire wing
3) carve and sand the blanks to conform to the templates - Remember the spar notches!

When building the wing, take alternate blanks from the stack. Thus, the first rib goes on the inboard side; the 2nd on the outboard wing; the third on the inboard; etc.  When completed, final sand with a T-Bar or something.

If I've omitted anything important, someone will chime in, I'm sure . . .

Ralph

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: bob werle on August 08, 2008, 12:57:39 PM

Do you have the two templates line up on the leading or trailing edge?  I would guess t/e but I want to be sure.

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: L0U CRANE on August 08, 2008, 01:23:17 PM

Bob,

Theoretically, it shouldn't matter, but in practice, some balance between LE and TE usually "feels" better.

If the wing has a spar a bit forward of half the chord (LE to TE) length, you could line up on that. If not, you can stack them with about the same sweep as on the finished wing, more or less.

Doing this keeps the automatic taper (cut in by sanding thick root rib to thinner tip rib) a bit more uniform. Alternate the ribs as suggested, and sand the ribs as suggested, to put their edges smooth to the covering instead of a single sharp edge from the stack-sanded taper.

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: Ralph Wenzel (d) on August 11, 2008, 08:49:07 PM

Quote from: bob werle on August 08, 2008, 12:57:39 PM

Do you have the two templates line up on the leading or trailing edge?  I would guess t/e but I want to be sure.

If the wing has a straight LE (swept TE), then align the templates on the LE. If the Wing has a straight TE (swept LE), align the templates on the TE. If both are swept, try to balance the templates according to how much each is swept.

Ralph

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: john e. holliday on August 12, 2008, 08:15:46 AM

Line up the blanks and templates according to the spar.  Use large sanding bar after wing is assembled.  When assembling follow the previous advice.  DOC Holliday

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: Leester on August 14, 2008, 04:30:29 PM

Hope this helps a little.

Title: Re: Foxey
Post by: bob werle on August 14, 2008, 04:39:18 PM

Thanks for the pictures,  That is a great help---1 picture is worth ***** words, in more than one way.
There are inly 14 ribs with a straight t/e. 
Thank you all for your input.