Greetings All,
I'm new to this forum and couldn't find an answer to this question by searching:
I'm re-covering a 1962 PA-18 tow plane and am on the wings using the blanket method. I have the top and bottom covered, but not shrunk. As I understand it, I need to rib stitch the bottom ribs under the fuel tank before I install the fuel tank. I don't want to rib stitch prior to shrinking the fabric. I'm concerned that if I shrink the fabric without the tank installed, it will pull the wing out of square a little and make the cross bar that goes through the fuel tank impossible to install. What is the proper build order?
I'm thinking of installing the cross bar without the tank, doing a 250 degree shrink, do the rib stitching under the fuel tank, then install the fuel tank before the final shrink.
Comments or suggestions?
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.
Gary
I'm new to this forum and couldn't find an answer to this question by searching:
I'm re-covering a 1962 PA-18 tow plane and am on the wings using the blanket method. I have the top and bottom covered, but not shrunk. As I understand it, I need to rib stitch the bottom ribs under the fuel tank before I install the fuel tank. I don't want to rib stitch prior to shrinking the fabric. I'm concerned that if I shrink the fabric without the tank installed, it will pull the wing out of square a little and make the cross bar that goes through the fuel tank impossible to install. What is the proper build order?
I'm thinking of installing the cross bar without the tank, doing a 250 degree shrink, do the rib stitching under the fuel tank, then install the fuel tank before the final shrink.
Comments or suggestions?
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.
Gary