F4Fguy
Attn. Larry Cunningham and others re your Post#9384.Here's a project of mine embodying my solutions to several subjects in that post.The attached pics are of my 1/2A(nominal,it'll have a Norvell .061) scale stunt Zero.The wing uses a modified version of Bobby Hunt's lost foam method.The ribs are in a geodetic arrangement and are generated from slices of a foam core.this is much less complicated than calculating them and ,if desired, you can vary the angle between them for particular reasons.For instance the main support for the gear is directly fore and aft.The wing is a monoque using a molded L.E.And built in a foam cradle.The skins are 1/20" 6#,as are the ribs.
The fuselage is molded 1/32" 6#,laid up directly on the basic fuse structure.The fuse started out as a Guillow's kit Zero(I hate to plot formers).I used the bulkheads and main longerons,with suitable lightening,and added .010"x3/32"x1/16" basswood channel stringers for better support of the skin between formers.These are lighter than 1/16" sq. balsa ,and also stiffer.I found that,with a stiff enough substructure,it was easy to lay up the wetted sheet directly,without carving a buck.I simply banded it in place 'til it was dry ,then fitted the pieces to each other,and glued them in place.Note the gun breech area between the cockpit and front former.Even this was easy.
Two types of tips are shown.One is carved and hollowed to about 1/16"-3/32".from my stash of <5# wood.The other is molded from 1/32" 6#with two 1/20" ribs and some other structure.The carved one is about 50%heavier.My scale won't read <1 gram,both molded ones read 2,both carved ones read 4,but on a simple balance beam they appear closer to 2:3.
The flaps,stab,and fin are done as the wing except 1/32" sheet.The elevators and rudder,not yet done,will be built up,tissue covered.
Still to be constructed :the engine torque box and mount;the cowl;the landing gear(the blocks are in the wing);tail surfaces as above;and,obviously finish.Everything so far plus engine,tank conopy,and control horns,weighs 4.7 oz. I'm projecting a finished weight of ~8.0 oz.
Ron B.
