Airdrome Aeroplanes Nieuport 17

[martymayes]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of the sheet leading edge vs. false ribs?

[bookmaker]

The kit was designed for sheeting. Mostly for simplicity I assume to keep from cutting, bending and finishing an additional 60+ short ribs. Both are for the purpose of helping ramp up the air over the leading edge of the wing. Without one or the other, the fabric sags between the main ribs.

I started with the sheeting that was provided, but was unable to get the fit I wanted. Partly due to the grain running perpendicular to the roll. Leading edge sheeting sold by Aircraft Spruce has the grain running lengthwise, but by the time I figured that out, I had decided to go with the original type false ribs.

The sheeting probably adds a little torsional strength, but it is not necessary in this build as there are other compensating factors.

By the way, the planes Robert built for the movie FlyBoys used the false ribs rather than the sheeting.

Dale

[martymayes]

The kit was designed for sheeting. Mostly for simplicity I assume to keep from cutting, bending and finishing an additional 60+ short ribs. Both are for the purpose of helping ramp up the air over the leading edge of the wing. Without one or the other, the fabric sags between the main ribs.

By the way, the planes Robert built for the movie FlyBoys used the false ribs rather than the sheeting.

Yes, the false ribs look more correct for that period. History books show most planes of that era had "sagging" fabric between ribs. Which one do you think is lighter or heavier?

[bookmaker]

The false ribs are probably a little heavier, but not by much. My original plan was to go the "easy" route with the aluminum sheet, then run a couple layers of tape up the sheet to fake the false ribs. But, messing with the aluminum sheet was becoming more work than making the ribs.
The sheet would have ended about 1/4" below the centerline if the front of the LE. I just could not get it to lay perfectly flat between the rivets at 4" apart. Some other builders I have talked to just live with it, but it bothered me. SOOOOO!

The false ribs definitely look better. I now need to make 15 for this wing panel. There will be about 36 for the upper wings.

[bookmaker]

While the turkey was in the smoker on Thanksgiving, Rose and I formed and trimmed the nose ends of the false ribs for the other lower wing.



Last evening, we got some time to work on the project and formed the bend in the aft end of the false ribs, cut them to length and mounted them in the wing.



Both lower wings basically complete, stored for next project





Dale

[bookmaker]

The lower wings were hauled out to the hangar and mounted for test fitting of the wing with the new leading edge and to see how they look with the false ribs.



While at the hangar, we removed the upper wing cores and brought them home to start attaching ribs, ailerons, etc.

Moving slow, but moving.

Dale

[bookmaker]

This evening work started on attaching ribs to the upper wing cores.





Dale

[bookmaker]

The other night I mounted the aileron hinges and torque tube.





Last night, I fit the nose pieces to both aileron wishbones and got one mounted to the torque tube. Only about 4 hours work measuring, lining up, remeasuring, drilling, etc.





Dale

[bookmaker]

Adding the main trailing edge.



Dale

[bookmaker]

Started on the aileron





Also started sorting out ribs in the root area, the box around the aileron wishbone and cockpit cut out bow.





Dale