> > How do the ΒΌ" strips Mark mentions bend the spar? After reading the question again, I may not have explained that sufficiently. What we're talking about here is bending the spar CAPS, by laminating thinner pieces together in a jig to get the bent shape, and then epoxying the caps together with vertical spacers like the plans call for, and then the plywood facing.
See http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/05021101m.jpg for an example of a more radical bend that Dr. Dean made on his airplane. These are 1/8" strips laminated into 5/8" formers for his fuselage formers. He steamed them inside a 3" PVC pipe suspended over a vegetable steamer, and then stretched them around an adjustable jig and epoxied them together. He used an epoxy that's not compromised by the presence of moisture. This bend is unbelievably strong...stronger than a non-laminated piece, and certainly way stronger than a glued 90 epoxied joint. Quarter inch is fine for spar caps because the bend is small and gradual, and steaming isn't necessary. Be prepared to have the strips slide all over the place during lamination though, so make sure your jig keeps that from happening. Mark Langford, Huntsville, Alabama see KR2S project N56ML at http://home.hiwaay.net/~langford email to N56ML "at" hiwaay.net --------------------------------------------------------------
