Covering the Wright Flyer

[jkap5]

Does anyone have suggestions on how to cover the wings of the wright flyer. Since one of the edges is made of string, I can't figure out how I will cover it.

[supercruiser]

Interesting dilema. Sure it's been done before. I assume the string is on the trailing edge. With the string taut you may be able to cover it just like usual. Cover the bottom first and fold the excess over the string. Then cover the top and fold the excess onto the bottom skin.
Shrinking the tissue might be just the right pull on the string to give that scalloped trailing edge.

[jkap5]

Thanks, I'll have to try that.

[John G. Jedinak]

Email Guillow Tech support.....use the "Contact Us" link. Mark has always
been very helpful with prompt replies whenever I need assitance.
Luck.................JGJ

[JOhn M Oshust]

Go to a florist and get some floral wire or buy some at a craft store like AC Moore. It comes in different guages and, unlike music wire which is spriny, when it is bent it stays that shape. When the tissue shrinks it will bend but it should be better than string.

[jkap5]

I already did the top wing but I'll try that on the bottom wing.

[JOhn M Oshust]

How did the top wing come out? If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!

[jkap5]

Ill try to get a picture of it on virtual aerodrome

[mark]

I think the confusion here is .... the thought that the Wright Flyer wing gets tissued witn 2 pieces of tissue, one for the top surface and one for the bottom .... this is not true. For these wings, being so fragile and having the string "trailing edge" it is much easier to tissue using ONE piece of tissue that wraps around. The instructions in the kit describe this and show 4-5 pictures of the process. I have copied / pasted the wording of the instructions below.

Regards, Mark
Hope this has helped .... happy building !


The wings should be done and ready to tissue. The wings are a very large visual part of this 1903 Wright Flyer so take your time and do a good job !! Tissuing is done by gluing tissue to the balsa wing frame and shrinking the tissue with a mist of water to tighten the tissue. The glue mixture to adhere the tissue to the frame is a 50% white glue and 50% water mix. To mist the tissue use a spray bottle with water in it. Mist tissue from a distance of about two feet to let the tissue become gently wet. Start the tissuing by cutting a piece of tissue a couple inches wider than the wing and about 10” high, this will be enough to cover one whole wing, top and bottom. It’s easiest to do the underside of the wing first so lay the wing upside down on your work surface and paint some 50/50 glue mixture along the leading edge and wing tips, then lay your tissue over the wing as shown in the 1st picture. Now roll your tissue sheet down onto the underside of the wing and paint some glue mixture thru the tissue onto the wing ribs and spar, see 2nd picture. Once this bottom side is dry, trim the excess tissue off the leading edge and wing tips. Now fold your tissue around the trailing edge of the wing and up over the top surface, see 3rd picture. Paint some glue mixture onto the leading edge and wing tips, pull the tissue gently and evenly over the wing. To close the tissue around the wing tips apply a liberal amount of glue mixture to the tissue outside the thread, see 4th picture. Pinch the tissue together so that the top and bottom tissue become joined on the outside of the thread. When the wing is all tissued and dried the excess should be trimmed off. You can then mist the wing structure with some water, this will help stretch and tighten up the tissue removing any small wrinkles or sags. It is recommended that the wing be held / pinned down flat when misting with water to help minimize any warping as the water dries and the tissue shrinks taut.