Biplane Wing Mounting

[GHMBO]

Hi Guys
Does anyone have a good way to mount the upper wing on a biplane? I have built a number of them and I usualy use rubber bands and a saddle at the cabine struts and the interplane struts fit into sockets on the wing surfaces. With the desire for light weight, the wings are a bit more flexable and the interplane struts sometimes fall out in flight. I realize that flying rigging was used on the real airplanes for reasons, including these. I would like to hear how others have solved this problem.

Jim

[Blackhawk]

Ghmbo

I like to make the cabanes so that they are anchored in the fuselage usually by passing them through a plate of balsa and expoxying them in place. The material I use for the cabane struts can be hard balsa, basswood or carbon rod depending on size and weight of the model. Balsa obviously for small ff models and carbon rod (2mm or so) for 30+ inch wingspan rc jobs. I fair the rods with paper or flattened coffee straws. The wing end of the cabanes also fit into plates in the upper wing or I use teflon or aluminum tubing glued into the wing to accept the rounded carbon strut or an oblong shaped hole for a balsa strut. I glue with something that I can dissolve later to reajust--usually ambroid or Elmers. Then use rigging to stiffen everything up a bit.
I am convinced that most of us overbuild biplane wings and if we relied more or riggins, we could save some weight.

Pat Daily

[GHMBO]

Thanks Blackhawk. I will try your methoed on the Curtiss-Wright CW1 that I have on the drawing board. It is not a biplane, but has struts and rigging. I kind of come from the crash school where the wings pop off to save repairs. The over the wing rubberband sure ruins the scale appearence.

Did you ever jump into CAD as you mentioned at one time? Again thanks for the advice.

[Blackhawk]

GHMBO

No I haven't had a chance to play with CAD yet -- actually I lost the reference and would appreciate it if you could resend.

As far as struts, I too believe that the wings should come off before they break. I have been using small nylon bolts to hold wings to the fuelage, also magnets and also have tried aluminum rod (about 1/16 in) pluggin into aluminum tubes two separate lower wings --this is very flexible and works well. Rigging holds it all together.

Pat

[GHMBO]

Hello Pat
I just checked the link to TurboCad 2D and the program is temporary unavailable, however the online instruction manual is available. The link is www.turbocad.com
Go to the site map and all the stuff is listed. I think that CAD will open a lot more options for you. Just don't get hooked on drawing and neglect the building part.

Jim

[Rotten Robbie]

I use BRASS wire and tubing. I make the cabanes with brass wire. I make the fairings from HARD balsa. I use brass tubing in holes in the wing. I also make the wings detachable. Generally one or two screws is enough.

If the airplane is lareg enough, make the rigging functional.

Brass wire is strong enough. You are not supposed to land on the wing. If by chane you do, the brass wire will usually give nad reduce the abount of damage you have to repair.

Robbie