Wing Work

Before covering the wings I wanted to do a few additional things to them. (August, 2003)

The first thing is to add 3/4 inch cap strips to the top of the ribs.

I reinforced the wing trailing edge on the bottom. Guys have had the trailing edge glue joint separate on occasion. I used quarter-round on either side to help strenghen the glue joint. The top of the wing won't need it since I put on the cap strips.

Checkng the aileron for fit and clearance, before covering the right wing. (Sept. 2003)

That aileron cavity bothers me some. Maybe I should have closed it in before I covered the wing?

The covered right wing! Now to start on the left wing cover. (November 2003)

The left wing ready for cover. The wing has been varnished and two coats of Poly-Tak applied where the fabric is to be attached.

There are two plastic tubes inside the wing. A large tube runs from the root to the tip, in case I decide to run wires out to the wing tip for lights (there is one in the right wing as well). The second one is a smaller tube that runs from the root to the strut attachment, in case the pitot located on the top of the vertical doesn't do the job and I must relocate it to the wing strut.

Fitting the dacron fabric to the wing.

The fabric taped to the leading edge, ready to apply the MEK and activate the Poly-Tak glue. (January, 2004)

The bottom of the covered left wing. (Preparing the fuselage for cover in the background.)