Inboard wing rib cover.

[rv6ator]

Any pros/cons about covering inboard wing rib vs leaving it open.

 

[skywagon8a]

Covering it helps in securing/locking in the top (if no tank) and bottom fabric. Always a good idea.

 

[rv6ator]

I've got 2 24 gal wing tanks.

 

[skywagon8a]

That's OK, it will help the bottom fabric. Any wing I've ever done fabric work on has the butt rib covered. In your case, the shrinking of the bottom fabric will tend to pull the glue on the rib cap in shear. If you continue it around and up the rib, it will help lock that in place. Secondarily it will help stiffen the rib.

 

[fishhook]

Im leaving mine uncovered, everyone I know leaves them wide open. No wing root panels even on the fuselage. The fabric can be folded around the bottom rib some. Some air does make it through the tank filler hole and flap bellcrank though.

 

[Steve Pierce]

I have seen too many where the fabric came off the butt rib. Don't know if it is prop wash, spilled fuel or what. We cover it. I can always make a slit if needed.

 

[KJC]

When you cover the bottom of the wing, leave the fabric about 18” long on the butt rib side. Make two slits for the spars and then pull the fabric up over the top of the rib and glue. I takes a little bit of work with a finish iron to make the leading edge area and trailing edge area nice. Wheather you cover the ends or not, you should probably take 20 minutes and rib stich the fabric on the bottom of the butt rib.

 

[Steve Pierce]

We don't rib stitch the butt rib. I do normally replace that rib with a stamped one.

 

[supercrow]

I like to cover the butt rib first. Shrink it slightly just to give it a little tautness. Then when you put the bottom on, you can come up several inches if you want to and have a good glue surface. If there is no tank involved, you can also put the top on that way and halfway down the butt rib. You can even bring the top and bottoms together in the center of the Butt rib and put a tape on them.

 

[supercrow]

If it has a tank, I like to also cover the rib that is on the inboard side of the tank. Then the top has a good place to hook to and come down as far as you want for glue surface.

 

[supercrow]

I guess that would actually be called the outboard side of the tank towards the wing tip.