I picked up a project that came with new in box Diehl skins.
I am in almost in the same position as Ray and I am struggling with the following questions. When placing Al tanks (AKA Mark Jones & Dana Overall) how are the tanks supported relative to the spars? Bonding small Al angle pieces seams appropriate but is anyone also strapping them in some how??? Next : Wing ribs? What about (using the Dan Diehl skins) wing ribs over the area of the tank? I desire to make a longer skinnier tank similar to what Dan recommends in the his installation instructions (for the wet wing version) but wonder about the skins ability to retain its shape while flying without oil canning. I can make ribs and then hollow out the center and install over the tank and bond but is this necessary? I am thinking about making "stiff" wing ribs for each end of the tank to "lock" it in place laterally within the wing. I have a KR experience CD and in that CD Mark L. is demonstrating how he was fabricating his wing tank "skins" he mentioned that due to the stiffness in that area he was NOT using ribs and apparently Dan was in the audience as Mark asked about his wing skins and Dan (off camera) indicated that with his skins he did use ribs. I understand that ribs or something like them perform multiple functions in a wet wing including baffling. BUT are they necessary for wing skin structural support? It is almost warm enough here in CT now to get resin to set up. Likely next week it will be too hot and the stuff will go off while I am still mixing it. Nice place, but building in a drafty unheated barn makes for a short airframe construction season. Gary Shubert KR2 - Corvair Last question
