40 Sized Cardinal Wing

I am looking for alternative sources of parts for a 40 sized Cardinal wing. I buried my new Cardinal 40 today on its twelfth flight. Very large sigh. So it is back to the building board. I have built the last 3 wings from Brodak's rib sets, but for the next one(s) I would like to use better components. Can anyone help?

Joe Hildreth

It would help if you explained what you mean by better components.

Walter

<It would help if you explained what you mean by better
components.

In particular, I am looking for better rib sets than the die
cut sets I have previously used from Brodak.  However, I do
not know what other piece parts may be available.  I might
even consider a foam wing if it were very light.  Also, I know
some are using molded leading edges, a technique I am very
interested in.  My use of the word "components" is
somewhat ambiguous, but I am simply trying to find out what
might be available for construction of the Cardinal wings.

I hope this clarifies what I am trying to find out.

Joe Hildreth

Check with Brodak. They're converting everything to laser, I believe. I recently bought a Vector 40 kit, very reasonable, all laser cut. The previous Vector kits were die punched. Actually, for a 40, you might want to try that. Every Vector I've seen has been a winner. Including one coming in at 55 ounces (an ARF) powered by electric.

I had a Cardinal 40 core and a Vector 40 core set in my hot little hands once.....very, very nearly identical....
See Ya

Peabody

www.gscb.us / www.richpeabody.com

Joe,
Very sorry to hear you lost your new plane. I didn't even get a chance to see it! Was "monitoring" your progress via your postings here, but didn't have any suggestions on your previous questions....

Knowing your high standards for construction, I suspect that the way to go would be to take rib templates from your previous wing/plans, verify the accuracy (especially the symmetry) and make some aluminum templates. Pick the grade wood you like and stack the blanks. As you know, I tend to build slower than the proverbial molasses in Alaskas, but this step doesn't take me more than a few hours, and I get all the precision that I choose. Nothing like a ribset that is essentially to final dimension before assembly and no need for the dreaded "long sanding block."

Wish you the best on your recovery plan and hope to see you out flying soon!

Dave "McSlow" Hull
LA_Flyer

Brodak has rib sets for sale - I would guess that most follow the original kit. If die cut, then die cut rib sets else laser cut.

They have the P40B and other rib sets as well


RSM also sells just the rib sets for their wings as well

>I am looking for alternative sources of parts for a 40 sized
>Cardinal wing. I buried my new Cardinal 40 today on its
>twelfth flight. Very large sigh. So it is back to the
>building board. I have built the last 3 wings from Brodak's
>rib sets, but for the next one(s) I would like to use better
>components. Can anyone help?

If you have the root and tip ribs, you can cut your own using the stack method. Otherwise, while laser-cut parts are nice, most die-cut jobs are at least functional. I have no idea how crunched they might be, but if it concerns you steaming them usually brings them back to level.

Brett

John Brodak is usually very good when it comes to the quality of his die cutting. I would assume that the die cut ribset for the Cardinal would be very servicable, and since there are cap strips applied, the finished wing should be nearly identical, differing mainly in the burned balsa edges for the laser cut ribs.

As for the Vector and Cardinal wings, Yes, the airfoil is very nearly identical also, but, the Cardinal wing has considerably more are than the Vector.

Added edit:

Back when the plans were drawn for the Cardinal, The ribs were drawn and lofted in a CAD drawing. Laser cutting was relativly new for CL kits at the time.

I rendered each digital rib to a file that was used by the Die maker to manufacture the dies. At the time, Brodak used this method to make all his dies used in his kits. The resultant parts produced from these dies were as accurate as the die maker could make them.

I've built two Brodak Cardinals from Brodak kits and have found the die cutting to be excellent.
As John said above the resultant airfoils after sheeting and cap stripping are very consistant. Built on jigs both of the wings I built were very straight and the airplanes flew very well....in fact the one I kept still flies very well.
I really can't see any advantage to laser cutting in this instance.

Randy C