Building new ribs

[Bigdog]

I'm planning to build a new set of ribs for my L-2 project since it appears that every rib has something broken. I'd rather build up everything new. Anyone have any tips or tricks to pass on? Unless there's a better method I plan to create patterns and then cut the multiple 1/4" ply pieces with a router for the nose and aileron bay. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Building new ribs

When you finish the ribs, I would BET you will have a few you feel are "sub par" and decide to build a few more (REALLY common!). Think about selling them on the group. They make GREAT wall hangings and I even saw one guy who took two and made book shelf supports from them. I have wanted one of those shelf units ever since I saw it! Gives you real confidence in the strength of the rib when you see how much they can hold as a shelf hanger
Hank

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Building new ribs

I just saw this! I too saw the pic of ribs being used as a book shelf and loved it. As I will have several ribs not usable for any rebuild I have been designing a system in my mind, using some of the spars I had to replace as the shelving. Cheap too, only a few hundred bucks per shelf!!!!!
Larry

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Building new ribs

Yea, I don't think I would build a book shelf from scratch this way! The material cost would kill the idea. It sure looked great on the wall with the ribs vertical and a section of front and rear spar between them as the shelves. The one I saw actually used pieces of real spar too with the old varnish still on them. I think he had aged the ribs down some to make it look like he cut the whole thing from an old wing, but the ribs were actually reject ribs from his build and the shelves were cut from a broken spar set. The basic material was expensive, but was just scrap anyway when he built the shelves.
Now I know how I am gong to use the short pieces of scrap spar I have.
Hank

[cvavon]

Re: Building new ribs

Hank build book shelves after you get your 1941 flying. Chuck

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Building new ribs

I will be building them when I do the homebuilt. That could be several planes in the future! Wonder if I will be able to READ a book by then. ;-)
Hank