Wing Storage

After completing the fabric covering on the left wing, we hoisted it back up in the shed rafters so that it could keep the right wing company.  Hours: 2.0

Finishing up fabric work on the left wing

We applied more glue to the leading and trailing edges, and then applied a 6" finishing tape on the leading edge, and two 2" tapes on the trailing edge.  These tapes were wrapped around the edges of the wing.  The tapes were ironed in places to eliminate any bubbles and fix them in place. 

We used a soldering iron to burn holes through the fabric at various nut-plate locations, including those for the wing tips, pitot tube, and pulley covers.  We also used razors and X-ACTO knives to carefully cut out the hole for the pitot tube, and slots for the aileron and flap cables. 

Once completed, we noticed that there were a few additional bubbles that had formed on  top of the plastic inspection rings.  Not sure why this happened as there were no bubbles in the fabric after we first installed the rings.  Perhaps we didn't apply enough glue to the top of the rings, although it's still not clear how those bubbles formed.  In any case, we ironed out these bubbles, and will keep an eye on them to make sure they don't come back.   Hours: 7

Michael ironing around an opening for the aileron pully

Bottom of left wing with leading & trailing edge tapes installed

Top of left wing with leading and trailing edge tapes installed

 

Left Wing, Top Fabric and some Tapes

We made some good progress on the left wing fabric this past week.  On the top side, we glued the fabric down to the tank and installed fabric rivets along the ribs on the top surface.  We installed two doilies on the top that will help protect the area around the tank filler cap, and the exit slot for the aileron control cable.

We applied adhesive for the 2" wide chord-wise tapes on both the top and bottom surfaces, and then installed those tapes.  We also installed two span-wise tapes on the top surface.  We then did some finishing work with irons around the rivets, and also trimmed and glued the fabric at the ends of the wing.  At each end of the wing, the fabric wraps around about 1/2 inch or so.   Next up on the list of things to do will be to install the tapes along the leading and trailing edges of the wing.  Hours: 8.5

Top surface chord-wise tapes installed

Other side of wing, showing tank and filler cap area

Bottom surface, tape at end of wing glued in place