Foam cores added to structure, sanded to shape, and paper wrapping
applied. I've also glued carbon reinforcements to balsa sheets for
trailing edges. New photos at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/basiliscus/albums/72157710570797943.
Not everything has gone according to plan. For some reason the port tip
panel became difficult to mate with the center section. I applied too
much force, it buckled, and snaped in half. Shazbot! I guess that's what
two-part polyurethane plastic bonder is for.
Before I applied the brown paper wrap, I primed with Bulldog water-based
plastic adhesion promoter. First time I've used this product. I'm
hoping it will improve the bond between all the plastic bits and the
Titebond II used to apply the paper skin.
Sanding the shape into the top surface went pretty well. The printed
ribs work well as templates, especially when covered with packing tape
to help protect against being sanded away.
The next step is to glue the trailing edge sheets to the structure.
Then iron on the laminating film. I may add ribs to the underside to
reinforce the trailing edge, but I'm waiting to see how stiff it is
first. I'll finish up by cutting ailerons into the tip panels and
installing aileron servos & wiring. That will pretty much compete the
basic wing.
After that, I'll be working on span extensions. Instead of a few big
extensions, I'm considering a bunch of smaller 15" pieces, the same size
as the panels I've been working on.
Cheers,
Tom
