Join The Wing Panels - Top Flite CESSNA 182 SKYLANE Instruction Book

You should now have a right hand and a left
hand set of Polyhedral Braces, as shown in the
photo. Tracing around the edges of the two
shorter parts will help alignment when you glue
them together.
3. When satisfied that the braces are accurate,
use 6-Minute Epoxy to glue the parts together with
the alignment marks perfectly aligned.

Join the wing panels

1. Carefully remove a 3/8"-wide strip of balsa
from between the spars on both the W-3 ribs of
the Center Section and the W-4 ribs of the outer
panels. This will allow the Polyhedral Braces to be
inserted and glued between the spars.
2. Test fit (but don't glue) the Polyhedral
braces into the center and outboard wing panels.
The longer end of the joiner is the end that
plugs into the outboard panels. Sand the
ends, if necessary, for a good fit. The wing
panels should mate evenly along the joint
without any unnecessary twisting or bending to
line things up. If you have to force the panels to
fit, locate the problem and fix it before
proceeding. Any twists will become a permanent
part of the structure after the panels are joined
and will be difficult to correct.
3. Use only a spot of CA to glue the two
1/4" x 1-1/16 " x 5-7/8" balsa Wing Jig Blocks
to the W-2 jig tabs and the top of the spar.
Now for the hard part — cleaning a space on
your work bench large enough to spread out and
join the wing.
IMPORTANT: Check your work surface with
a metal straightedge to make sure that it's
perfectly flat before proceeding. Make a
"dry run" of the following step before
actually performing it with glue.
4. Place the Center panel on the Jig Blocks
in the middle of your work bench. Add some
21
weight to hold it in place (a few magazines or
small sandbags are handy for this). Prepare 1/2
ounce of 30-Minute Epoxy. Liberally apply
epoxy to the W-3 Ribs, the Polyhedral
Braces,and the spar ends. (If you will be
installing Flaps, don't put epoxy on the "Flap"
portion of the ribs. Insert waxed paper between
W-3 and W-4 at the flaps.) Plug the Polyhedral
Braces into the Outboard Wing Panels. Plug
the Outboard Wing Panels into the Center
Section and align the Ribs for a flush fit. The
protruding Center Section LE and Aft Center
Spar tabs will help with alignment. Once all the
panels are in position, clamp the ribs together
and center the Polyhedral Braces between the
Spars as shown on the top view of the plans.
Put weights on the two W-14 ribs to hold the
jig tabs and spars on the work surface. Before
the epoxy kicks off , double check your work.
IMPORTANT: Make certain that both the upper
and lower Spars touch their mates on the
adjoining panel. If, after all your efforts, you end
up with a small gap, pack epoxy into the cavity.
5. Use a razor saw to cut a 1/6" wide x 3/8"
deep slot on both sides of the bottom spars at
W-3. Remember, the wing is upside down on the
bench so the bottom spars are presently on
the "top."