![\"dsc_0510\"](\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/DSC_0510.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThread half of the ribs onto the wing jig rods. Make sure they are upside down. \u00a0This isn’t an issue with accurately cut symmetrical ribs of course. \u00a0But if your ribs are semisymmetrical, figure out which way is up and put them on the jig upside down.<\/p>\n
Measure the rib spacing on the plans and mark the rib locations on your spars and trailing edge.<\/p>\n Check that the rods are straight and your ribs are square, then spread the ribs out to the proper spacing.<\/p>\n Attach the trailing edge first, but don’t attach the root rib yet. \u00a0Note the alignment to the marks.<\/p>\n Make sure the ribs are square and attach the spar, but don’t glue the root rib yet.<\/p>\n Next, add the trailing edge sheeting.<\/p>\n Then add the leading edge sheeting.<\/p>\n Remove the rod clamps, turn the wing over, and clamp it back down. \u00a0Insert the top spar in the spar notches. \u00a0Align the ribs with the marks on the spars, except the root rib, and glue them in place. \u00a0Use your\u00a0dihedral gauge to set the angle of the root rib and glue it to the spars, sheeting, etc.<\/p>\n Now attach the leading edge and trailing edge sheeting. \u00a0Sand the leading edge sheeting flush with the ribs and add the leading edge stick. \u00a0As long as the wing is in the jig it is flat and straight. \u00a0Add the shear webs to the spars.<\/p>\n Now that you have the top and bottom, and the leading edge, and the shear webs attached, the wing is rigid and resistant to twisting. \u00a0Remove the clamps, pull the rods out of the wing, and you’re finished with the wing jig.<\/p>\n For those of you who are wondering why I start with the wing upside down\u00a0and then turn it upright, and why I don’t glue the root rib in place until later, there’s a good reason for that. \u00a0Imagine that your wing is upright to start with, and you glue the root rib to the trailing edge, then you add the top sheeting and set the dihedral angle on the root rib and glue it in place. \u00a0When you prepared\u00a0your spars you made four spars the same length, right? \u00a0Now you flip the wing over and try to add the bottom spar\u00a0but it’s just a hair too short. \u00a0That’s why you should start with the wing upside down and attach the bottom sheeting first, because everything on the bottom is longer. \u00a0When you flip the wing over, the sheeting and spar for the top will be a little bit too long, and that’s never a bad thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The classic way to build a balsa wing is to put some kind of protective plastic sheet on your plan and build the wing right on top of the plan, pinning parts to your building board as you go. \u00a0This … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n