Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Gardiner Mason"
I am about ready to do the 1/16" plywood skin on my Sky Scout centersection. I have the GN-1 airfoil which has a little bigger radius on theleading edge, but it still looks to me like a pretty small radius bend for1/16" plywood. The GN-1 plans don't give a lot of details and I can't seemto locate my Piet plans right now.I am thinking two possible methods of doing this. The first one would be todo the spruce leading edge and form it for a 1/4" recess top and bottom tohave separate plywood pieces that glue to it, but do not wrap all the wayaround the tight nose radius.The second method would be to form the leading edge to match the ribs andwrap a the plywood leading edge piece all the way around it. I think that Iwould need to soak the plywood and wrap it wet then let it dry and form tothe shape to keep from breaking it. If I do this method I will add fillerpieces on the top and bottom of the forward spar and make a leading edgethat only covers halfway back on the spars then use separate pieces to gofrom there to the trailing edge.The second method seems to be the best plan, but I am not 100% sure if theply will wrap around the leading edge without breaking even if it is soaked.Comments?If I recall correctly when plywood is used for the leading edge on theoutboard wings it is something thinner than 1/16". Correct?Brian KrautEngineering Alternatives, Inc.www.engalt.com________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Brian Kraut"
Brian,on my pietenpol leading edge I did the bottom first and then the top. After the glue dried I then used filler to shape the leading edge. Gardiner Mason----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Brian Kraut
I don't know what the plans look like for the GN!, but why are you (and others) putting the ply all the way around the leading edge? It is only called for on the top, from the leading edge back to the spar.Gene ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Brian Kraut"
BrianYou can definetly bend the plywood after wetting. That is the way did it, although I didnt submerge the plywood. I covered the plwood with a wet towel and slowly bent it around the LE. I used cargo straps covered with saran wrap and kept pulling as the wood was ready to give.Dick N.----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Thanks. It is birch with a poplar center three ply. Any preference as toweather the outside plies should be bent accross or along the grain? It ishard to tell which direction the sheet bends easiest because it is a full 4X 8 sheet now and I don't want to cut it until I know the shape and size ofthe pieces I am cutting out. I don't have much of the sheet to waste.Brian KrautEngineering Alternatives, Inc.www.engalt.com-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "Brian Kraut"
I used Okume plywood on mine. I have never tried bending birch and cant help you there.Dick----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: shad bell
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Plywood leading edgeI used 1/16 birch with no problem. Apply with the outside grain parallel with the wingspan. I made a little recessed edge with my router all along theleading edge. Glued w/T-88 all along the L.E. and stayed with it nailing it down little by little into a bed of T-88. No problem to do it dry with no wateror steaming. Came out beautiful. Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL.**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:42:29 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
It was not very clear on the GN-1 plans, but I did just find somethingstating what you say.It is a little baffeling to me why you would use aluminum or ply on theoutboard wing leading edges and not do it on the center section. You mightnot need the strength since the spars in that area ar so much moresubstantial and the loading on the center section is very low, but I stillwant the ply there to keep the correct shape where the covering goes overand resistance to objects hitting the leading edge and ripping the covering,not to mention the appearance looking the same on the center section vs. theoutboard wings. One other concern for me is that the top center sectionwill have no ply between the spars other than about three inches on eachside and a screwed on aluminum cover for the fuel tank so a little extrastrength from covering the leading and trailing edge will help. I am doingthe plywood on the area aft of the spar to give it strength when people grabit getting in and out and bang their heads on it.Brian KrautEngineering Alternatives, Inc.www.engalt.com -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "walt evans"