Looking for wingtip skins

[Mpbethke]

Hello all. I am rebuilding my wings this winter and currently have the L/H wing completely disassembled. So far most of my ribs have passed inspection. There are a few that I plan to replace with D&E ribs. The aileron cove is in rough shape and the wing tip skin has more bondo than aluminum so that needs replacing as well. I think I have found the aileron cove solution at D&E, but if someone had one or two laying around I'd be interested. The wingtip skin, with it's complex curves, is the real mystery. Anyone know where to find them or if a sheet metal shop or fiberglass shop can build them up?
Thanks!
Mattt

[Ragwing nut]

postwar I presume since your asking about tip closeout. I have some, but need to see what condition they are. I also have ribs, and maybe aileron cove. Let me know which pieces you need.

[Hank Jarrett]

Yes to what Mike said (Ragwing nut). There were different tips with different shaped aluminum leading edge pieces. If you can post some photos of yours we can find some that match what you had (minus the Bondo).

Hank

[Mpbethke]

Thanks fellas, I'll get you a picture soon. Spunky is 1946 BC12D.
Ragwing Nut I am definitely interested in ribs and aileron coves as well. Do you mind sharing some pictures with me? Maybe 4 ribs for now with the potential for more once we get the other wing opened up...and I would be interested in two aileron coves as well just so long as they are in good shape.
Thanks!
Matt

[Ragwing nut]

Thanks fellas, I'll get you a picture soon. Spunky is 1946 BC12D.
Ragwing Nut I am definitely interested in ribs and aileron coves as well. Do you mind sharing some pictures with me? Maybe 4 ribs for now with the potential for more once we get the other wing opened up...and I would be interested in two aileron coves as well just so long as they are in good shape.
Thanks!
Matt

what ribs do you need? Which direction does the flange turn when looking from the rear of the wing? Which pieces of cove? There are 3 or 4 pieces that make it up.

[Mpbethke]

Here are some pics of the wingtip skin

[Mpbethke]

And here is the aileron cove.

[Mpbethke]

The complete #10 rib which you can see is the l/h rib in the 1st pic, and the l/h one on the last pic. Also need to replace #12 nose rib which is the r/h rib in the last picture.

[Mpbethke]

• Need the butt rib, outboard section, inboard would be nice but not necessary. In both pics that would be the middle rib.
• The #15 rib which is where the bowtip attaches. 1st pic r/h rib, 2nd pic bottom rib.

[Mpbethke]

Lastly, I was planning on fabricating new bowtips for both wings, but if you had some clean one laying around I would be interested in taking a look.
Thanks everyone!
-Matt

[Scott]

Your root ribs actually little pretty good in the photos. I will be surprised if you can find better ones.
This was definitely a week point on the BC12D wings. The continued shrinkage caused by butyrate dopes caused the root ribs to deform and crack. You can actually end up with a better result by reinforcing the original in the spar areas.

Same with the tip bows, easy to make and they were prone to corrosion so the ones out there may not be much better than what you have. Alternatively, it's usually the aft section, aft of the rear spar, that corrodes out. Easy to splice in a new section if the rest of the bow is good.

[Mpbethke]

Right on Scott. I looks like you cut up a spare rib to use as the splice? We will most likely repair what we cannot replace. That number 10 rib was quite corroded and so I don't think we wanna try to salvage it. So looking at what I've got, do you have some spare parts to sell?
Thanks,
Matt

[3Dreaming]

Scott, All of the stamped rib wings I have seen had a L and R flange rib stacked together to make a very strong box rib at the wing root. If I need I can shoot a picture tomorrow.

[Hank Jarrett]

Wow! Your bad parts are better than a lot of what people thought were GOOD ones! Don't trash the ones you replace, others will take them and repair them. With your current standards you are going to have a REALLY prime plane! Please keep us up with photos and progress reports!

Hank

[Ragwing nut]

And here is the aileron cove.

whats wrong with this cove?