Covering: Left Wing

After a late Saturday night in the garage, I finally got the left wing covered. First pics show the wing sheet metal roughed up with a scothbrite pad (to enhance glue adhesion) and then the entire wing bonding area cleaned with an acetone solvent. Masking tape was used as antichafe tape and applied to the structure where sharp areas occur. Two coats of U500 glue were applied to perimeter of wing and around under sides of spars, root rib and wing tip. Two thinned coats of U500 were applied to wing sheet metal to prevent "pinholing" following painting.

The fabric was than rolled over the top of the wing and glued down with thinned glue in beads around perimeter. The skin was then slightly tautened to remove wrinkles and skin was glued to sheet metal and to remaining areas on spars, rib and wing tip. Areas of the fabric had to be cutout to fit around ribs underneath. Tag ends of fabric underneath were trimmed off and ironed down.

The bottom panel went on next, first two coats of glue were applied to LE/TE spars. Same procedure went as before, except this time, numerous large protusions existed on bottom of wing such as strut attach plates. The skin was glued on right over these features and after tautening the fabric was sized and the openings were cut for the skin to pass over. I had trouble getting fabric to lay down flat on TE spar as a result.

Both sides were final tautened and complete. Next to the patches....

Covering: Fuselage: Taping

I can't believe I'm finally DONE with covering the fuse. A two week run to Spokane, WA threw a wrench into production. Following are pics of taping the fuse. First couple pics show measuring and marking 2" zone for glue where tape will go and then applying glue along the 2" width.

Next, I lay the tape down and apply a bead of thinned glue down the centerline to secure tape...

This is then followed by gluing down the remainder of the tape with thinned glue across full width of tape. Following drying, the tapes were ironed down, concentrating on getting the pinked edges bonded tight. Some cleanup of glue with MEK was required on skin along taped edges and where spillage occured. Following are completion pics of covered, patched, and taped fuse; top first.

Followed by bottom (dang rudder cable grease rubbed on and through fabric at several spots)

Left side (mosquitos covet this flying machine)...

Right side...

...and the aspiring co-pilot twin little buggers (turn 5 next month) are excited to see something finally resembling an aircraft...

On to the wings....