Wright Stuff B

[blue cobra]

The first link isn't working for me and the second one is just people (including a post from jander14indoor ) talking about BLG, but not mentioning any specifics about the ribs. If you could, please explain the method or link to another site.

[smartkid222]

the first link words for me and if you go to the second link, it directs you to a message which contains the link again.

here it is again

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/balloonla ... 20Ribs.pdf

[blue cobra]

Oh, I just had to join the group . Thanks!

[carneyf1d]

All I can see from the link is the last words, "cooked ribs"...which sounds like a horrible idea unless you're about to eat them.

[blue cobra]

It's about bending the wood to the foil shape you want.

[gh]

I couldn't get the PDF either, but it sounds like the steam-formed ribs mentioned a few pages back (also heavily supported by alienshards on the old forum). At WS/BLG weights, I doubt it's worth the trouble of steam-forming ribs as opposed to cutting them. The performance of both should be identical; the only difference is strength/weight.

If you're worried about ribs cracking, it's a lot easier to cut thicker ribs and to reinforce them with straight pieces under the camber than to make a curved mold for steaming sheets of balsa.

[49ers]

Random Question:
I've used 1/16 sq for pretty much everything on my planes (wing and stabs). I always have a gram or two to spare, so I figured why not use 1/16 by 3/32? Added strength is always good, after all. What are your opinions/advice on this matter?

sure, if you feel like it you can make it 1/16 x 3/32. Just make sure you check the densities of all the wood you make your target weight.

also, see what the average weight is and use that as a base point for your wood. If something is too light for one part of your plane, save it for another part. Also, determine which parts need the denser wood and which need the lighter stuff, and which need the inbetween

[49ers]

<SNIP>My science O coach weighed all of our balsa seperately, and it helped us have a better plane(It did take forever granted)

.

Rant mode on...

Arrrgghhh, statements like that are part of what fuel the perception of excess adult participation in tech events

Your coach should have YOU weigh the wood, not do it for you. This is WELL within the skills of middle school students.

Next time it happens, take the wood and the scale from the coach, tell him/her to sit on their hands, and YOU do the work. They can advise as much as they like, but they need to do it hands off as much as possible.

Students, for any/all tech events, help your coaches realize their job is to advise, maybe demonstrate, but seldom, if ever, do it for you! Learn to be like my daughter did by two years old. "No, no, daddy, I dood it." as she pushed my hands away from her shoelaces.

Coaches, I know its hard, but your students can do far more than you expect. Make a habit of sitting on your hands. If you demo something, throw it out or keep it for yourself! Sounds cruel, but far less so in the long run.

OK, off soapbox for now.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

Well, 1st off, I did not do this evenT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second off, the other people(yoyosciencekid23 and hemi382) were too busy trying to put the plane together at the time!!!! third off, our team is perfectly capable of doing everything on our own if we were forced to because our coach at states was running an event. Our plane was sat on(see my previous posts) and needed major repairs. Hemi382 and another team member whom I will not mention fixed the plane all on their own!!!!!! So if you thought we were babies, Think again!!!! Thank you very much!!!!!

[49ers]

I must Agree with Mr. Anderson on the issue of coaches-being-too-close-for-construction. We lose track of what SO is about and what Wright Stuff is about. The coach should be hands off except those very few instances when a "third" hand might be needed. These include carrying a box into the flying site or helping record data while the two student pilots are working on flight trim at school. Possibly your coach could be hands-on designing/assembling a flight box.

In the realm of building airplanes, the airplanes should be hands-off for coaches. There really are very few reasons that they can ever be involved. Having students observe the coach building as he/she builds their own coach's airplane (to show construction techniques) should be closest they come to any student construction. As for cutting wood, the coach can show technique but their finished pcs are technically-- trash.

Good Luck

When my team built our first couple of planes, they were not made with much help other than the occasional "can you please hold this so we can do this or that?" I get sick and tired of hearing this same message and people can just say it much nicer than the way all of you have previously put it!!!!!!

[49ers]

Yep...I just use good old razor blades - used to use an Xacto knife, but I find in many situations I get more control from the razor blade, plus the blades are cheaper and last longer.

I use an Xacto knife for some things still though, like cutting ribs.

First, is it exacto or Xacto?? 2nd, I used those last year in BLG attempts(which failed) and they cut pretty well if you know what you are doing!!! third, are those carbon edged blades expensive??? I'mn sure my team would love some...