From my blog, 1/6/2008
After I was happy with the initial rigging:All the wings were set in stone on all axis. Tramelling to the tail post gave me a 1/8 difference on the uppers, and 0 differenceon the lowers (pure luck of course). Upper wing incidence at several stations were crack on 0.0 (note: incidence is 1.5 deg, fuselage was raised from 0 to 1.5 for ease of levelling)on the digital level, and numerous plumb lines were within3/32 of their opposites at worse. So at that point, I took a deep breath and finally did whatI had been waiting to do for months...I drilled and bolted the center wing cabane spar plates. Here is my fool proof way of doing this:
- 2 cabane plates, one drilled 1/64 undersize on all the 1/4 spar holes, and the other with no holes for the 1/4 holes.
- bolted the two cabane plates to the cabanes. Slipped the spar down between the plates
- used a mini level sat on both plates either side the spar. When set in position, clamped up.
- Using a drill block, I drilled through the spar until i felt the blank steel plate on the other side, then applied a little pressure to ensure I marked the plate (a counter bore drill would have been better I reckon).
-removed the marked blank plate and drilled out on the drill press. Then refitted.
- played with my adjustable reamers until I sneeked up to what I wanted for the 1/4AN bolt holes.
The lower right wing incidenceat the root [brackets]was 0.1, and 0.2 on the left wing. I have to adjust both rear lower wing brackets anyways due tothe 'ears' beingslightly narrow on the right wing, and one hole being skewed slightly on the left wing (this is apre built fuselage). So when I mess around with those brackets, I will strife for 0.0 just for grins.
Center Bow
I was scratching my head thinking up of a way to conceal the rear cabane nutsbehind the hand-hold, yet still have future access. I decided to recess a face plate with the router and a side/face cutter (see pic). Not in the pic, but I drilledseveral small lightening holes in the rear of the plate. The large inner ears in the pic are from an oldbalsa block, the 'outer' ears are 3/16 ply. The contour/curve on these ears is a transition from the center bay ply to the hand grip. A nice idea is tofoam/glass the center bow area, butI am terribleat glassing, so I'll be going the fabric coveringroute.I will post a finished pic to my blog when the bow is finallyattached, which I cannot fit until the auxilary tank and top ply is complete (in process).
I-struts
I am trying to utilize old I-struts to save a bit of money...streamline tubing is $40/foot! My second hand ones of course don't fit :0|I have cut off the upper box sections, and I am hoping the streamline tubing will be long enough when I weld the new box section up there- welding causes steel to shrink, so I may well be 1/8+ short. I am trying to avoid shimming with washers...I once saw a lovely Pitts with SEVEN washers at the rearattach point. They are scrap anyways, so I may as well tinker with them...one never knows 'til one tries.
Flying/Landing Wires
The wires (second hand)were stripped of all terminals, to check if they all were indeed the correct length: I marked on each endthread with nail polish where the terminal fitting could screw up to until thewitness hole was obstructed, thus confirming enough thread is in the terminal fitting. Thankfully they all fitted fine with plenty of room left for final tensioning. I will be sending the terminal assemblys away for silver cadmium('white') plating.
Center bow stuff...
Well someone had to eventually!(this is a buddy)...
After I was happy with the initial rigging:All the wings were set in stone on all axis. Tramelling to the tail post gave me a 1/8 difference on the uppers, and 0 differenceon the lowers (pure luck of course). Upper wing incidence at several stations were crack on 0.0 (note: incidence is 1.5 deg, fuselage was raised from 0 to 1.5 for ease of levelling)on the digital level, and numerous plumb lines were within3/32 of their opposites at worse. So at that point, I took a deep breath and finally did whatI had been waiting to do for months...I drilled and bolted the center wing cabane spar plates. Here is my fool proof way of doing this:
- 2 cabane plates, one drilled 1/64 undersize on all the 1/4 spar holes, and the other with no holes for the 1/4 holes.
- bolted the two cabane plates to the cabanes. Slipped the spar down between the plates
- used a mini level sat on both plates either side the spar. When set in position, clamped up.
- Using a drill block, I drilled through the spar until i felt the blank steel plate on the other side, then applied a little pressure to ensure I marked the plate (a counter bore drill would have been better I reckon).
-removed the marked blank plate and drilled out on the drill press. Then refitted.
- played with my adjustable reamers until I sneeked up to what I wanted for the 1/4AN bolt holes.
The lower right wing incidenceat the root [brackets]was 0.1, and 0.2 on the left wing. I have to adjust both rear lower wing brackets anyways due tothe 'ears' beingslightly narrow on the right wing, and one hole being skewed slightly on the left wing (this is apre built fuselage). So when I mess around with those brackets, I will strife for 0.0 just for grins.
Center Bow
I was scratching my head thinking up of a way to conceal the rear cabane nutsbehind the hand-hold, yet still have future access. I decided to recess a face plate with the router and a side/face cutter (see pic). Not in the pic, but I drilledseveral small lightening holes in the rear of the plate. The large inner ears in the pic are from an oldbalsa block, the 'outer' ears are 3/16 ply. The contour/curve on these ears is a transition from the center bay ply to the hand grip. A nice idea is tofoam/glass the center bow area, butI am terribleat glassing, so I'll be going the fabric coveringroute.I will post a finished pic to my blog when the bow is finallyattached, which I cannot fit until the auxilary tank and top ply is complete (in process).
I-struts
I am trying to utilize old I-struts to save a bit of money...streamline tubing is $40/foot! My second hand ones of course don't fit :0|I have cut off the upper box sections, and I am hoping the streamline tubing will be long enough when I weld the new box section up there- welding causes steel to shrink, so I may well be 1/8+ short. I am trying to avoid shimming with washers...I once saw a lovely Pitts with SEVEN washers at the rearattach point. They are scrap anyways, so I may as well tinker with them...one never knows 'til one tries.
Flying/Landing Wires
The wires (second hand)were stripped of all terminals, to check if they all were indeed the correct length: I marked on each endthread with nail polish where the terminal fitting could screw up to until thewitness hole was obstructed, thus confirming enough thread is in the terminal fitting. Thankfully they all fitted fine with plenty of room left for final tensioning. I will be sending the terminal assemblys away for silver cadmium('white') plating.
Center bow stuff...
Well someone had to eventually!(this is a buddy)...
