COMPLETING THE RIBS

After almost two months out of the project, I am happy to spend some time in my hangar, looking at what was done and What should I do now!!! When you start a project like this (not really complicate), when you stop for a relatively long period it's hard to remember where you stop, what was the next step and most important, did you forget anything?

So I spend some hours reading the plans again, looking the pieces done and the building log. After that time, I was able to start again. Also, I called Pierre to know if he was available to talk about the next step as I should need his help to make sure I don't do any mistake and if he could make a tool to form the lightning hole on the spar.

By the time I could get some time to press the ribs and flange the lightning hole and form the reenforcement, I did the Cap Strip of the main and rear spars.

The rear spar Cap Strip were easy to make. But, as always, time well spent help you to make it right...

1/8in hole in the rear spar's Cap Strip

Cap Strip adjusted on the Rear Spar

Cap Strip Adjusted on the Rear Spar

Finally, my schedule is ok and I can work on the ribs. So I went to Pierre's hangar and used his press to form the reenforcement and make the flanges of the lightning hole.

Using the jigs Pierre did with MDF, I put the ribs on it with a piece of rubber and pressed it. The result is awesome and make it so well.

Placing the rib on the jig.

The rib/jig is placed in the press with a rubber on top.

The result here give you a very good job.

After the rib, it's time to work on the spar. As per the plan, I have to cut a 3" diameter lightning holes in the spar and then flange it. To cut the hole, I've used a hole saw set of 3". Then for the flanges, Pierre made a useful tool, not expansive and easy to use.

Useful tool to make the flanges.

The tool installed and used with symmetrical pressure

The result.

The spar is now ready for the next step.

Now, I have to make the Cap Strip of the main spar. The 1/8" steel plates are ordered and should be delivered soon. By the time, I will start to build the jig that will be used to build the wing...