Tail surface rib stitching

[jiott]

Lowell, I am really curious how you change the shape of your flexible rudder ribs? Do you have any pics of the mechanism? Did it work well? This is the height of experimental aircraft!

[Floog]

Jim, what is SPDT switch? Did that come with your kit?

[Dorsal]

I also wired mine to be adjustable though did by switching between both fans in series or parallel. I definitely like having the two speed control.

[Dave S]

Dorsal...that sounds like an elegantly simple solution.....happen to have some identity on the specific switch(s) you used?

Thanks,

Dave S

[jmodguy]

Floog
SPDT is a single pole double throw switch. Basically it has a center contact that is common and two contacts that are closed or open. One set of contacts will be open while the other is closed. It is also called an ON-NONE-ON switch.
A DPDT is similar but has two sets of contacts - Double pole double throw. DPDT switches are typically used in flap or trim motor switch circuits.
Regards
Jeff

[jmodguy]

OK for all that stitched the tail feathers...
The ribs are 1/8 thick and I am wondering how you compensated for the lack of cap strip. The narrowest reinforcing tape from AC Spruce is 1/4" wide and from what I understand should be the same width as the cap strip.
Sooooo.... How'd you do it???
I'm going to do it for the practice and as always - better safe than sorry!

Regards
Jeff

[jiott]

Stitching the tail feathers is totally unnecessary, but if you do it you would need to add capstrips to the ribs. Its extra weight and a lot of extra work. If you need practice, use a scrap piece of fabric over some kind of wood frame. After you have done one or two stitches you won't need any more practice. My 2 cents.

[N213RV]

I used the 1/4" reinforcement tapes on the 1/8" ribs, stitched them, then covered with 1" trim tapes. Turned out nice. I can send a picture later.

[HighWing]

Jim mentioned the weight added when we do our modifying. With that in mind and that I was building a Model IV, I converted all ribs to quarter inch urethane foam covered with a single layer of medium weight fiberglass. The weight issue was foremost on my mind as I was adding a lot of stuff to the tail - gap seals vertical and horizontal and fairing everything to reduce drag. Everything was done with weight in mind.

Gap Seal in Neutral

Elev Gap seal 1.jpg

Gap Seal fully deflected

Elev Gap Seal 2.jpg

Elevator strut fairings and Horizontal / Vertical Fairings

Fairings 1.jpg

[Clark in AZ]

Nice job! What do you figure all of that did for the performance? Any numbers?