| 91 | Rib #17 Done | 1/2/2007 |
| | 17 down and 15 to go. No more T-88, running low on 1/2" X 1/2" spruce and need more ply to do the root ribs for my 3 piece wing. Ordered more from Aircraft Spruce in spite of the previous fiasco with capstrip. Not sure why Wicks plywood is so darned expensive but figured this would be a simple enough order for Aircraft Spruce to get right. While busily mixing up T-88 and applying the side B gussets I pondered the thought of Piet building as an alternative to software engineering. Now that would be cool! Too bad the best I can do to merge the two is this website.
Man hours: 0.75 |
| | | T-88, Ply and 1/2" sq. Capstrip | Building Materials | $51.00 | | Aircraft Spruce and Supply Order Shipping | Building Materials | $22.00 |
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| 90 | Rib #17 1/2 Done | 1/1/2007 |
| | Starting the New Year out right I got up early and made tracks for the shop to begin the second half of the ribs. Did the first side of #17 and have just enough T-88 to get me through the backside of this rib.
Man hours: 0.75 |
| 89 | Rib #16 Done | 12/31/2006 |
| | Glued gussets on the backside of #16. On this, the last day of 2006, I am exactly half done buiding ribs. I like to think in terms of accomplishment rather than the lack thereof because it would be too easy to become disappointed and end up quitting. Happy New Years!
Man hours: 0.5 |
| 88 | Rib #17 With Notes | 12/31/2006 |
| | Rib #17 is underway so I can start the first of 2007 with the first of the second half of the ribs. I start by steaming a capstrip and clamping it in the pre-bender. The next day it's dry and holds a bend pretty close to the bend of the rib profile. You can see that I had to play with the curve on the jig to get it right. A picture of the empty jig shows where the 1/2" X 1/2" nose block goes. It's held to the correct position by a block and aluminum piece of angle bracket cut to fit. I sand the nose block to an exact fit and set in place. I made all the gussets for the whole wing before I made any ribs. There is a little overhang added intentionally to each gusset so I can trim flush with a laminate flush trim bit in my router. I use a "nail free" clamping system that holds everything together while the T-88 cures. The dimensions of the nose gusset are flush with profile and 1.25" wide. When the first side is done, I flip it over and do the other side in a similar jig. When both sides are done I cut the protruding capstrip from the rib nose and sand close to flush with the 1/2" X 1/2" nose block. When all the ribs are done I will devise a way to sand them all perfectly flat at the same time
Man hours: 0.5 |
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| 87 | Trailing Edge of Rib | 12/31/2006 |
| | At the end of the trailing edge the plans (full size rib drawing) call for a block which I almost forgot when I started my first rib. I had to make one after the T-88 had been applied and the clock was ticking on the working time of the glue. I made it in time though. Some pictures of the block, the joint and the gusset. |
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| 86 | Rib At Front Spar | 12/31/2006 |
| | Another place where a block is called for (that some people skip) is to fill the small space between the top of the spar and the curvature of the rib. Folka on the list whose advice I really value say not to skip these. I read that you can put them in after the ribs are on the spar but I added them sandwiched between 2 gussets as part of the rib. |
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| 85 | Joints of Truss in the Rib | 12/31/2006 |
| | An experienced builder in my EAA chapter gave me my first lesson in rib building. He is the one in charge of the Air Camper they are building at OshKosh and built the ribs for that plane himself as well as his own Pober Jr. Ace. Shape the ends to a good close fit on a belt/disk sander and take the feathers off with a fine file before fitting into the jig. When I have a 3-way junction I always angle the tips so they hold each other in place on 2 sides. FWIW- When my EAA tech counselor reviewed my work he liked that. |
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| 84 | Rib #15 Done | 12/30/2006 |
| | Trimmed gussets on #14, did side B gussets on #15 and side A gussets on #16. Here the rib factory is in full swing. The lower jig has 4.5" carriage bolts in the clamp. They seemed too long at first but after the flipside jig came to be, I think they are perfect for stacking and giving a little space.
Man hours: 5 |
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