Workshop Build-Along — Alien Aircraft ArrowMaster 4 — Top Wing

Workshop Build-Along — Alien Aircraft ArrowMaster 4 — Top Wing

In part 3, we finished the bottom wing by adding the ailerons and joining the two wing halves together. Now we continue with the Top wing! Construction is very similar to the bottom wing. Differences being, it’s built as a single piece with no dihedral and no ailerons. It has a lot to sweep back to it plus, it has the hard-point mounts for the cabane struts built into the center section. There’s a few subassemblies that need to be built first, so that’s where I started.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The T/E of the center section is laminated from 7 pieces. The blocks help to keep them in alignment

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The cabane supports are built from several parts. Make sure to make a left and a right assembly.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

you need to make sure the supports are 90 degrees to the rib.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Alignment is the key here as you’ll see in the next picture.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

On the bottom of the assembly, 2 pockets are formed for the blind nut mounts. The accuracy of the laser-cut parts is just amazing, everything fit perfectly!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here’s the parts neede to build the top wing. Note the completed subassemblies.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Because of the sweep in the top wing, the main spars and sheeting need to be cut at an angle to match the sweep. There are guides included in the kit for each, part G1 is for the spars and G2 (not shown) is for the sheeting. A very thoughtful idea.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The bottom main spars are glued together on the plan. A plywood joiner is then glued on top of the spar.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here the joiner has been epoxied into place.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The cabane support assemblies are glued into place.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The center ribs are now added along with the 1/4″ square L/E and the plywood joiner for the top main spar.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The laminated T/E assembly and the top main spar now gluded into place. Use epoxy on the spar assembly. The shear webs are also glued into place. The center section sheeting is now glued into place after a light sanding to remove any humps and bumps.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The ribs, top spar, shear webbing, L/E and T/E are all glued into place.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The top spar is glued to the previously installed plywood joiner. Be sure to use exopy and clamps for this.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Spring clamps work great for this task. I also built the left wing panel at the same time.

this wraps up the basic construction of the top wing. The rest is the details and such–adding the ribs, spars, LE, shear webs and TE etc., is the same as before. The spar from the center section was also securely epoxied to the wing panels main spar.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Sheeting the top wing goes pretty quickly, and is accomplished like the bottom wing. Here, the L/E and capstrips have been added, I also did the left side at the time.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

After the glue has dried, the wing is unpinned from the building surface and pinned back down upside down. A 3/8″ square balsa stick placed under the T/E to keep the wing straight. Make sure the wing secure on the building board.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The center section is sheeted first. The openings for the cabane mounts need to be exposed, I plotted their position before gluing the sheets in place.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here the L/E sheet and the rib capstrips have been added. I sprayed the outside of the L/E with Windex to allow the balsa to bend easier over the curve of the ribs.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The bottom of the wing has been sheeted and waiting for the glue to dry before removing it from the building board. Next installment we’ll add the wing tips, the “N” strut mounts and final sanding.

Next  the top wing is flipped over so the bottom can be sheeted. After that the glue has dried, the wing is removed from the building board so the final details can be added and the wing is complete after a final sanding.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The sheeting on the inside edges of the cabane mounts needs to be beveled so the struts fit without rubbing the sheeting. Marks 1/4 inch are made for the cuts.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here the top opening has been shaped, compare it to the bottom opening.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

All of the cabane openings have been shaped as required.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I’m fitting the cabane strut to make sure there’s no interference with the sheeting.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

In the instructions, there isn’t any mention to install the “N” strut supports in the top wing. So make sure that they’re installed in the BOTTOM of the top wing. The plan shows their location and they’re installed the same way as the bottom wing.

 

The “N” struts mounts have been installed and sanded flush with the bottom surface of the wing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I then sanded the center section TE to shape.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Like the bottom wing, I added wing tips to extend the overall span of the wing. They’re built just like the tips on the bottom wing and add some flair to the overall shape of the wing.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here’s the right wing panel completed, the left wing panel is a mirror of the right panel and both are ready to be covered. I’ll be using UltraCote to cover the model. This completes the construction of the wings for the ArrowMaster. The next installment will focus on building the fuselage.

To see the next installment of this Build-Along project, click the link: https://www.modelairplanenews.com/blog/2014/08/26/workshop-build-along-alien-aircraft-arrowmaster-bipe-5-fuselage/

To See the previous installment, click the link: https://www.modelairplanenews.com/blog/2014/07/30/workshop-build-along-3-alien-aircraft-arrowmaster-biplane/

Updated: July 23, 2015 — 4:33 PM

2 Comments

  1. I am with aeromodels since the age of 12. I used to build my own models either from RCM or the plans came with kits.
    Can I get the plan of AeroMaster-4 biplane. If so please froward me the procedure / mode of payment and the cost by post to Lahore – Pakistan.

  2. Buen día, soy de México y quiero felicitarlos por lo que hacen y realizan, de igual manera me gustaría saber como puedo conseguir algunos planos de aviones para armarlos, me gustaría que ustedes me ayudaran, les mando un fuerte abrazo y gracias por su tiempo.

Comments are closed.

Air Age Media ©
WordPress Lightbox