Sheet The Bottom Of The Wing - Top Flite CESSNA 182 SKYLANE Instruction Book

6. Test fit the 1/16" die-cut ply bottom Spar
Joiner in the slots. Just like the Polyhedral
Braces, the Spar Joiners have one end that is
longer than the other. The longer end points
towards the wing tip. Equally sand the ends if
needed for a good fit between the ribs. Use 6-
minute or 30-Minute Epoxy to glue the Spar
Joiners in position. Clothes pins make handy
clamps while the epoxy cures.
7. Turn the wing over and repeat the
process of installing the Spar Joiners on the top
wing spars.

Sheet the bottom of the wing

Our suggested wing sheeting process allows
you to sheet each of the wing panels with one
skin per side — plus a little extra for the flaps.
This technique is better than sheeting the wing
with individual sheets, and allows you to pre-
sand all of the seams that will be over open
structure.
All balsa sheeting will usually bend when it's cut
from the log since internal stresses are relieved.
For the best results, trim the edges of the wing
sheeting with a long metal straightedge and a
sharp knife before joining them. You may also
try turning the sheets different ways to see if the
edges will line up evenly. If the bend is only
slight, use 150-grit sandpaper on a long sanding
block to smooth out the curvature. For more
information on making wing skins refer back
to page 10 for the Hot Tip.
NOTE: Do the following steps for both the
right and left wing panels.
1. Sort through the remaining 1/16" x 3" x 36"
balsa sheets and pick out the 6 best sheets to
be used for the top surfaces of the outboard
wing panels. Pick the best three sheets from the
1/16" x 3" x 21" sheeting to use for the top
Center Section skin
2. Lay waxed paper over a flat, smooth
work surface.
3. Make four outboard wing skins by edge
gluing three 1/16" x 3" x 36" balsa wing sheets
together to make (four) 9" x 36" skins. Make one
center section skin using four sheets of 1/16" x
3" x 21" balsa. This skin will be cut in half after
sanding to make two 12" x 10-1/2" skins. Refer
to page 10 for tips on making skins.
NOTE: When sheeting, be sure that the
wing is resting squarely on the center
section Jig Blocks, weighted down on a flat
surface, and that the W-14 jig tabs are in
solid contact with the building surface.
4. Hold a 1/16" x 12" x 10-1/2" center section
skin on the bottom surface of the wing with one
edge butted up to the LE. Mark the perimeter of
the skin. The side edges of the skin should be
centered on the joint between ribs W-3 and W-
4. Cut the skin close to the correct size then
sand it for an exact fit.
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5. Glue the center skin in position using
medium or thick CA. Hold the skin in contact
with the frame until the glue has cured.
6. Fit one of the 9" x 36" skins in place on
an outboard wing panel, with one long edge
butted tightly against the inner LE. The inboard
edge should overlap the center section. Tape the
skin in place. With a flexible ruler, mark the edge
that mates with the center panel. Flip the wing
over and mark the tip and TE from the back side.
Allow an extra 1/4" around these two edges .
Remove the skin and cut it to the marked size. If
necessary, use 220 grit sandpaper to fine tune
the inboard edge for an exact fit. The photo at
step #9 shows approximately what your sheet
should look like when it's trimmed.