Eagler's Nest
Airframes => Single Seaters => XL => Topic started by: Mark Kramer on February 19, 2020, 05:37:16 AM
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Hi guys,
I am making nose ribs, and am wondering about adding foam ribs in between the wood ones. Is this over kill? I’ve seen a lot of folks do it. Anybody have an opinion?
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Mark, I didnt use foam, Instead used 1/8th luan plywood cut just like the other nose ribs including lightning holes. worked very well with no deformation in the skins and very stiff. Sorry i dont have a good pic
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Mark, I decided to go with the additional ribs because in searching the way back forum threads I noted that some folks had issues with the nose skin deforming with changes in humidity. I live in the Deep South, so I thought it would be worth the extra effort. Not the it gets humid here........ ::)
I made 1" thick foam ribs, 2 per "bay" between the plywood ribs. I did this first of all because I was done making wooden nose ribs and did not want to tool up to make more, and I knew I could just glue the foam rib blanks in place and cut them to shape using a hot wire against the existing wood ribs, quick and easy. Weighs virtually nothing and really does stabilize the skin.
That said, if you go with foam, keep in mind that what you use to seal the wing may react adversely with the foam. I simply sealed the wood first, then glued the foam in place, so no problem.
If you decide to install the extra ribs, just use whatever is cheapest/ lightest/ availablist, (Izat even a word?) and it'll work fine.
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Awesome...thank you so much. I like the idea a little extra support in there
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I know this is an old post; but for future readers... I also added plywood ribs... I place my nose ribs every 12" with 1/4" ribs every 48" and the rest were 1/8" ribs... It added very little weight & very little nose dimpling.