Aviation Concepts 1/3-scale Schweizer 2-33 ~ Build Thread by JimD

[gunny11]

These 1/3 scale kits are back in stock! Building season is upon us now!

https://www.aviationconceptsrc.com

[David Tanner]

Please keep designing great Schweizers ...

[gunny11]

Ps, I love the scale grass clippings on the nose..

[gunny11]

Thanks David, welcome to the forum! Nice shot of your #5.
I really enjoy flying mine a lot....

p.s. David's 1/3 scale was the first one to take flight in Canada. 😀

[JimD]

Before completing the bottom section of the fuselage (and while it will still flat on the bench), we are moving on to the wings. Once the wings are completed to the point that they can be set on top of the fuselage, the holes for the wing bolts can be drilled. This process is a lot easier with the fuselage sitting flat on the work surface.

Plans were attached to the work surface and covered with wax paper. Next, we located the parts necessary to start the wing build.

[JimD]

Got all of the ribs and other wing parts separated from the carrier sheets and organized. Shimmed the spars over the plan as Gunny suggests and we were off to the races! Excellent laser cutting and perfect parts fit on this kit, having a great time watching the wings come together.

[JimD]

Wing strut mounts need to be angled correctly.









Top Spar clamped in place at root.



Time to mix epoxy!







Then add the last two ribs to the main wing panels and then the top drag spar.

[JimD]

1/8" Balsa shear webs are added to both sides of the main spar and at the inboard 2 bays and last outboard bay of the drag spar.

[JimD]

Last step in this phase of the inner wing panel build is to install the wing joiner dowel and add triangle under the wing bolt plates.



At this point, Gunny instructs the builder to assemble his wing jig (included in the kit). This jig can be configured for building either a right or left wing. Thanks to Tom M, I have a second set of jig parts. He kindly gave me his set after completing his model.

[gunny11]

Go Jim, Go! Your going to love the jiggy Mc-Thingy...

[JimD]

More progress...using jig to support wings as additional stringers and leading edge are added.





Once everything on top side was completed, wings were flipped over to finish out spoiler bays.

[JimD]

The structure can now be removed from the jig.

Sheeting for the bottom of the wing can now be glued together and placed onto the jig.

[JimD]

Finished product after trimming off excess sheeting and cutting out spoiler and servo pocket.

[lenb]

That looks great Jim, the jig for sheeting the underside seems to really speed up the process and make the job more accurate and enjoyable.
Kudos Gunny for doing that.

[JimD]

Time to move to the outboard panels. These panels are longer than 4', so the spars must be spliced to get the necessary length. The top and bottom main spars are also laminated to get the necessary thickness. We started by making the cuts for the splices and laminations.





We like to use pieces of aluminum angle as clamping supports.






Laminated section added.



Ribs and drag spars added.



Drag spar planed and sanded to rib contour.

[JimD]

Shear webbing added along main spars



3/32" balsa wing sheeting prepared. The length of the outer panels requires joints to add cord and span. Careful cutting and sanding will yield excellent results.



Sheeting placed on outer wing panel jig and wing rib structure is glued onto it with weighs added to keep ribs, spars, LE and TE in contact with the sheeting.



Once glue sets, weighs are removed.



Outer panel can now be lifted out of jig to inspect the underside. Nice smooth sheeting...jig is a great idea Gunny, I love it!!!!



Here is a closer look at the wing skin joints, very happy with results.