wing fabric tape question

[Laz]

I have just covered my first wing and ready to install the reinforcing tapes. The Main Rib tapes will wrap all the way around the leading edge. My question is do the false tapes go all the way around, not to the trailing edge but from the top of the front spar to just past the spar on the bottom? bottom ? This is 46 BC12-d with stamped ribs. There are screw in the ribs that have to be covered and on the bottom a tape needs to extend back over past where the leading edge ends to past the spar where the short rib attaches. I have searched all the archives. Bob lees site and galley and can’t find a photo that shows how people handle this area. Any help will be appreciated.

[Steve Pierce]

Re: wing fabric tape question

I think this might help.

[Laz]

Re: wing fabric tape question

Thanks Steve,

What does it look like at the top of the wing. Thats where mu qestion is. do they wrap the tape all the way around to the spar on the top where it will be coverd by the span wise tape?

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing fabric tape question

Hello Laz:

The false rib tapes only cover the false ribs, and yes, up to the span-wise tape on top of the spar.

Steve's photo has the underside covered (pardon the pun!). The false ribs on the underside of the wing terminate somewhat gently aft of the leading edge D-section, so requiring a nice tapered tape.

On the top side, however, the false ribs terminate quite abrubtly on top of the front spar.

This photo shows the top of the port wing...as you can see, the false ribs do not go aft of the spar on the top surface:



During taping, when I decided that the top fabric needed a reinforcing tape span-wise (at the spar), I terminated the chord-wise tapes for the false ribs before installing this span-wise piece.

This photo shows the top side of my port wing in Stits "pink goo". You can see the long span-wise tape, under which lie the short chord-wise tapes for the false ribs.



It's a poor photo for what you need, but I'll be able to take a better photo of the finished job tomorrow.

Hope this helps,

Rob

[Laz]

Re: wing fabric tape question

Thanks Rob,

I saw that picture on your web site but could not see the tapes. I plan on doing mine exactly the same. Are you going to Oshkosh? I will be there all week. Thanks as always for your help.

Laz

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing fabric tape question

You can't see the false rib tapes...I'll try to get a photo tomorrow.

Yes, I'll be at Oshkosh all week (by car this year)...you'd be very welcome to drop into our campsite for a refreshing drink in the heat of the day. We're just setting it up this weekend. Two minutes walk from the Camp Scholler pedestrian entrance.

It's amazing that it costs us $3000 just to camp there, but it does.

Rob

[VictorBravo]

Re: wing fabric tape question

It's amazing that it costs us $3000 just to camp there, but it does.

Rob

Huh?

How much less is it without the dancing girls, Perrier-Jouet, and catered lobster tails?

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing fabric tape question

Well, a trip to the airfield proves what a twit I am.

The top of the false ribs of the post-war BC12D are completely covered by the leading edge, of course, so no false-rib tape is needed.

This photo shows the top of the leading edge...the yellow arrows point to where the PK screws hold the leading edge down to the false ribs. Because the leading edge is already covered by the aluminium leading edge (and its fabric), no tapes are required.



In my own defence, my learned friends, I offer that I was confused with the pre-war 15-rib BC-65 wing, which has the false ribs extending aft of the front spar:



I hope this answers your queston, Laz...you just need them underneath like in Steve's photo.

[Laz]

Re: wing fabric tape question

Rob

You did center in on my question exactly, but I still have some confusion. On the bottom of the post war stamped ribs you habe to use a tape becuase the back of the false rib is not covered by aluminum. why would you not extend it all the way arount so as to cover the screw heads. I am sure that either way is probably OK. I was just curious what the factory may have done originally?

In any case I owe you some of you favorite adult drink at Oshkosh.

Laz