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Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

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  • Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

    Well- I have built 4 wood ribs today for the ClipTcraft- I think that is my record. My thumbs are bleeding from the stupid little nails. Man I wish there were a faster way to build wood ribs. I see now why CG went to the stamped aluminum rib.

    This brings my total to 12 ribs. There are 26 ribs in my wing design so I am almost 1/2 way there. Not bad for 2 weeks- I had set a goal to do 1 per night but I have found that I miss a few evenings here and there but make up for it on the weekends. I should be done around January 1st. A local fellow is going to build one too so he is next in line for the jig. If anyone else was thinking of building wood ribs for their clipwing you are welcome to my jig.

    I have decided to use a tip bow similar to a Cub only not quite that round. This will add a little to my span but I think the rounded tips keep with the classic lines of the tail. Anyone know a good way to make tip bows?

    I have all my parts cut out for the stick assy but have to wait for until after the expense of x-mas to have it welded. All the fuselage mods are ready to be welded as well.
    Eric Minnis
    Bully Aeroplane Works and Airshows
    www.bullyaero.com
    Clipwing Tcraft x3


    Flying is easy- to go up you pull back, to go down you pull back a little farther.

  • #2
    Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

    Hell, I was ready for some ribs tomorrow. Know NC is known for their RIBS. lol Think I told you I was there last fall (2004) on motorcycles. Did the Outer Bank and Blue ridge plus lots of TN, VA, and NC. Three weeks. Had a great time.
    Lee in Louisiana
    Yellow Duck

    Originally posted by Acroeric
    Well- I have built 4 wood ribs today for the ClipTcraft- I think that is my record. My thumbs are bleeding from the stupid little nails. Man I wish there were a faster way to build wood ribs. I see now why CG went to the stamped aluminum rib.

    This brings my total to 12 ribs. There are 26 ribs in my wing design so I am almost 1/2 way there. Not bad for 2 weeks- I had set a goal to do 1 per night but I have found that I miss a few evenings here and there but make up for it on the weekends. I should be done around January 1st. A local fellow is going to build one too so he is next in line for the jig. If anyone else was thinking of building wood ribs for their clipwing you are welcome to my jig.

    I have decided to use a tip bow similar to a Cub only not quite that round. This will add a little to my span but I think the rounded tips keep with the classic lines of the tail. Anyone know a good way to make tip bows?

    I have all my parts cut out for the stick assy but have to wait for until after the expense of x-mas to have it welded. All the fuselage mods are ready to be welded as well.
    Lee
    Yellow Duck

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

      Eric,
      If you plan to use something like a cub then why not use a Cub wings tip bow? The distance between the spars are the same. Or, you can laminate a set from thin strips of spruce to your own shape.
      Hope this helps,



      Originally posted by Acroeric
      Well- I have built 4 wood ribs today for the ClipTcraft- I think that is my record. My thumbs are bleeding from the stupid little nails. Man I wish there were a faster way to build wood ribs. I see now why CG went to the stamped aluminum rib.

      This brings my total to 12 ribs. There are 26 ribs in my wing design so I am almost 1/2 way there. Not bad for 2 weeks- I had set a goal to do 1 per night but I have found that I miss a few evenings here and there but make up for it on the weekends. I should be done around January 1st. A local fellow is going to build one too so he is next in line for the jig. If anyone else was thinking of building wood ribs for their clipwing you are welcome to my jig.

      I have decided to use a tip bow similar to a Cub only not quite that round. This will add a little to my span but I think the rounded tips keep with the classic lines of the tail. Anyone know a good way to make tip bows?

      I have all my parts cut out for the stick assy but have to wait for until after the expense of x-mas to have it welded. All the fuselage mods are ready to be welded as well.
      Kevin Mays
      West Liberty,Ky

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

        Eric, why not use an office stapler instead of the nails. The stapler will give you two points instead of one and will not damage the wood. It is a lot faster and your fingers won't hurt as much. The nails only hold things in place until the glue dries. Dick
        TF #10

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

          Dick- I had thought of that but the steel staples will rust- I thought the brass/ glue coated nails would be better. I have one of those staplers I used for hanging insulation. I guess I could try it. I take it you used them with good success-
          Eric Minnis
          Bully Aeroplane Works and Airshows
          www.bullyaero.com
          Clipwing Tcraft x3


          Flying is easy- to go up you pull back, to go down you pull back a little farther.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

            There is a much faster way (lighter too Eric) . Use the light duty staple gun and staples (I need to check on the size staples I used )... but any way , before you staple you lay string beneath the area you wish to staple (cut it long and "snake it" all over the area. Then straddle the string with the staple gun and then when the glue dries you can use a set of plyers to pull with one hand the end of the string (while placing your other hand on the rib around that general area obviously ) . You will be pulling one staple at a time without damaging the wood . It makes for a really neat job. I did an entire set of L2 ribs this way and it really worked well.

            Eric, I will cal you on the parts too. I have not forgotten. Will calll today perhaps mo money for you the project...!!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

              I like the staple & string idea.

              Another one I've never used, but know of, is to install the nails with a little piece/scrap of ply under the head to make them easier to remove after the glue sets.

              Eric, could you post a photo of your rib jig? A picture's worth a thousand words ya' know.
              Last edited by Vasey fan; 12-18-2005, 09:15.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                Eric, I am talking about the type of stapler you have on your desk. I wouldn't worry about them rusting. The staple/nails the were used in making the wood L-2 ribs have been in them for over 60 years and are still there. In any event you are going to varnish the wood when you're done and that should slow the rusting. Dick
                TF #10

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                  Eric:

                  I agree with TJ Bracket (Vasey Fan), we'd like to see a picture of you ribs and the jib used to make them. You've got me interested in the wood wings, especially since they are a few pounds lighter. Drop a picture of your work on the website. Thanks.

                  dd

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                  • #10
                    Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                    I taped a small 1/16 inch thick piece of steel between the staple holes on my air stapler. This allows the staple to be driven 90% in. Simply grab and pull out when the glue dries. Eliminates the extra string/cardboard step....Yum!
                    Jim

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                      I will post a photo of my rib jig and some ribs tomorrow AM when I have a high speed connection. I built another rib tonight- may even do 1 more before I go to bed. We have family coming in so I guess I have to move my stuff from the kitchen table ;-)

                      The ribs come out about 1/2 to 3/4 ounce lighter than the post war stamped rib. I did some testing to failure and they were more the 2x as strong as the originals.

                      There are some photos in the gallery now under "Clipwing" showing the wings and ribs. Again- these were my last set- the new ones are a little lighter and my new wings will only have 13 ribs vs. the 15 in a Swick.

                      I finished my stick assy and ALL brackets today!!!! I hope to tack weld everything then tank it to my friend to finish up over X-mas.

                      What are you all's thoughts on re-alligning the Strut attach fitting on the fuselage to the new strut angle. Swick did it, Cole did not (I do not think). There will be a 6 degree sharper angle there. . . . Bob Barrows (Bearhawk designer) looked at it and said he would not bother. I really do not like messing with that fitting- it is somewhat complex.
                      Eric Minnis
                      Bully Aeroplane Works and Airshows
                      www.bullyaero.com
                      Clipwing Tcraft x3


                      Flying is easy- to go up you pull back, to go down you pull back a little farther.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                        I would think its not a question of "if to change the alignment of the fitting to the new angle of the strut or not" I would think you would do this no matter but perhaps I am being too paranoid. I agree that it is a complex fitting. It does seem howevr to make sence to rotate the whole deal like Swick outlines....

                        Eric, What are you thinking to do.. make a angle change at the bottom of the strut ? ( I thought about this but I do not like that idea at all).

                        I am going to put the spars together (all compression struts EXCEPT the strut ones. After I accomplish this THEN I will fit the whole shebang up to the fuselage and get my angles in a straight line. I trust the Swick plans to a point and am 90% sure that it works . I just want to see for my self how it works out. I will be satisfied then I suppose. (that 10 % doubt could really be a downer if its wrong)

                        Thoughts ?????? I am not closed mind on this by any means in spite of the action I discuss taking.
                        Last edited by Jim Herpst; 12-18-2005, 18:24.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                          Well- If you do the math the actual torsional load that fitting will bear is very small -with the angles disagreeing at about 6 degrees difference. Imagine hanging a given weight from a rope, now take the weight as it is suspended and move it to either side a few degrees. . . . teh force acting on the weight trying to push it vertical represents the torsoin the fitting would see. That is how Bob explained it anyway.

                          I may just go ahead and do it anyway b/c if I don't every time I snap or loop I will be thinking of it!

                          AS for setting the angles when you build the wing- I would just take your measurements and figure the angles. It is easy enough to do and much easier to accurately drill your spar under the drill press!
                          Eric Minnis
                          Bully Aeroplane Works and Airshows
                          www.bullyaero.com
                          Clipwing Tcraft x3


                          Flying is easy- to go up you pull back, to go down you pull back a little farther.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                            Oh my my communication is everything. I would not think of doing any thing but using a drill press while the spar is off the plane and apart to drill the fitting holes. What I did say I would do is making damn sure that I have straight lines from the fuselage fitting to the 65% attach point. I trust Bob Barrows but I also like to go by the book when it comes to struts,attach fittings /angles locations and spars. Like you agreed piece of mind means a bunch. My tolerance level for it must be a lot less than some as I dont have to be hanging by the belts when I think of things like that!

                            As far as just doing all the calculations on paper then drilling and fitting it up based on the paper calculations.... I guess I aint that smart Eric. or I guess I do not want to chance it. Bolting and unbolting the spars held together with the other remaining compression tubes is worth the time for me.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Ribs. . . Not BBQ Ribs

                              Calculating and drilling without actual fitting-up reminds me of an expression we use at work (commercial HVAC fabrication/installation): the numbers all add up but it still don't fit!

                              Eric #2

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