One big Experiment, Elio X 120″(3M) WS and new Tail Set Oct 21 2016

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With the bigger wings I better add a bit more tail authority.

Here’s what I came up with and also got most of the lumber cut.

Wonder how this is going to fly :):)

A few minutes on the Drawing Board and I have something to work with, I’ll sheet the stabs forward of the spar on one side, and add some sheet at the root and double the spar with sheet out to the tip.

Seat of the pants design I suppose.

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I like to cover the bottom 1st

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place the sheet over the surface and tack one long side 1st , then taught and the other side tack every 2 inch or so. Watch the two ends if it looks like they won’t be down flat try and tack the long side a little tighter.

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Next up the end with the wicked curve, set the stab over the edge of a chest high or so work table and hold down with a weight and some thing to protect the surface.. Slowly with light pressure work your way around the curve, starting at the sharpest area which needs to be stretched the most. In this case the tip of the stab Heat the material before you push it down to the surface, or else you can introduce folds, overlaps which won’t come out later.

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Once you have the end done it should look something like this with enough overlap once you trim away the excess material just above where the folds start, preferably straight as well

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allow for overlap at the end corners, and cut into the apex where the side meets the top at the corners. Do the TE and LE bu ironing and rolling the iron as you move around from top to the edge. Trip off excess material, these single edge razor blades work magic for this

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When tightening covering over a sheeted area do not press down to firmly on the iron or else the material will stick , not shrink properly, and you’ll introduce creases. Work lightly with the iron 1st to get the shrink started eventually adding more and more pressure to the iron.

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with the white on the rudder I needed an x so cut it from some red ultrakote scraps

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a couple pieces of 1/16 ply where the horn gets attached

 

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stab set initially gets framed up. The sheeting , spar doubler and inboard root sheet gets added later

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Here the brass tubes are in place, Next step is remove from board to add 3/32 sheet

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3/32 tapered spar doubler and inboard root filler added on top side of stab set, other sets get full forward sheeting as well as root filler sheet at rear

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