Preparing
to Build a Model Aircraft Wing
The example I am presenting here is typical of almost all sport wings as far
as order of construction goes. However, some models may have unique
items that must be installed in a certain order.
Study the instructions and plans to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the
assembly sequence. If you are building from a kit then I suggest that
you sand the sheets holding the parts before removing them. They will
look nicer under a transparent covering.
If the ribs are die-cut, then it is almost always beneficial to sand the
back of the sheet. That's the side that the die did not enter from.
This practice helps the parts fall out easier. Never force die-cut
parts from the sheet. Unless a part falls out on its own, I almost
always run a sharp X-Acto around the perimeter of every part to ensure they
do not get damaged when they are removed.
Identify all the parts and ensure everything is present. If you are
building from scratch or from plans then make a "kit" by cutting all the
parts for the wing before you start building. Having everything
ready speeds up construction and helps it proceed smoothly. Having a
kit also helps prevent construction errors.
All modelers have built themselves into a corner at one time or another.
As a consequence we all have performed surgery on our models even though we
really try to avoid it. The best defense against this is familiarizing
yourself with the construction and being patient.
Often mistakes are made because we want to get something glued in place so
we can move along and skip a step in our rush. |
