Ritewing hints and tips #1
1 – Put everything forward!!, if powered pusher, use the lightest motor for the job – It means less nose weight & less AUW
2 – Dont worry about goop/CA for the coro bay lids, scorch the edge of the coro where it meets the EPP with a lighter and use hotglue! It works perfectly, bonds quick and the heat helps to soften the coro and prevent sticky uppy bits. Use round corners on the coro, a 50c coin works well as a guide. It helps reduce sticky uppy bits!
3 – Dont 3M90 the wing in direct sunlight – It tacks up really quick. Do it in the shade.
4 – Dont be afraid of the 3M90! While doing most of the wing, have the nozzle on high. Turn it down when you wrap the riteweave up around the trailing edge.
5 – On your first ritewing, first peice of riteweave, glass the trailing edge section of the wing in between the control rods – Its nice and flat, and a short length. You’ll get a feel for it quickly. Dont try to do lay down huge lengths quickly.
6 – Only spread the 3m90 when it wet. Trying to spread it when its tacky can make uglies – see below. Dont be afraid of the 3m90, if the piece of weave you just laid down looks like it needs more – Spray more.
7 – Dont be afraid of the 3m90
8 – 3m90 tacks up in a few minutes, but takes a few days to properly dry. Aim for 4-5 days of drying in the wing beds. You can feel the solvents evaporate out of the wing and cool it down. Freaky!
9 – Do the top side of the wing, leave it to tack up well for a few hours, then lay down greaseproof paper in the wing beds (with holes cut in the beds to allow for your control rods) and glass the underside. leave it for an hour or so to tack up before doing the leading and trailing edges.
10 – Trim the riteweave on both side of the LE roughly 1/4″ back from the apex of the LE, Trim the upper TE riteweave flush with the EPP. Leave 3/4 of an inch of riteweave extending on the lower TE of the wing. Run on length of riteweave down each half of the wings LE, Stick one half down evenly and leave it to tack for a minute, and then work and stick it down around the LE and too the lower surface. Spray the TE riteweave overhang and the TE of the wing with 3m90 and give it a minute to get tacky, Work the weave up stick it to the trailing edge, and over and onto the upper surface. Hit it with the 3m90 again and smooth it all out. Now throw it in the wing bed with the weights and baking paper and leave it for a few days.
11 – Wipe down you squeegy often, scrape of the excess 3m90 before it goes tacky on the squeegy, or it’ll try to stick to your wing.
12 – Try not to touch the wing while glassing it, your fingers are likely covered in 3m90 now and will like to stick to the wing.
13 – If you do have any ugly 3m90 balls or pools or whatever, dont worry about it. Once its dried for a few days you can clean them up with a knife easily, trying to clean them up before its fully dry is messy and much harder too do.
