Oly II Mods

[TheNightowl]

Not like there aren't already multiple Oly II mod threads on here, but I haven't seen one yet addressing what I want to do.

What I want to do is make the two center panels one piece, and have the tip panels detachable, but I'll be leaving in the center dihedral; not making it a flat center section. In doing so, it seems to not make much sense to have the wing joiner rod in the center. So.... what should I replace it with? I could just forego the joiner tube and put a piece of 6mm carbon rod where the 1/4-inch steel rod would have gone. Would that work? Or is even that overkill?

Nightowl

[Robglover]

You could get by with less carbon if you put it on the upper and lower surface of the spars, using a good shear web.

[TheNightowl]

More like a Supra spar? Yeah, I can do that.

[PeterH]

If you're making the center joint 'solid', then I suggest you build both main spar sections as a unit with contiuous wood dihedral joints replace the ply spar box caps with caps that continuously run from one spar box to the other) in addition to the c/f rod you mentioned. Might also fiberglass the center section.

You're still the potential owner of a really draggy midsection, you might also consider altering the fuselage with internal dowels running fore/aft and get the fuselage clear of the dowel pegs sticking out the sides.

[TheNightowl]

Actually, I was going to fair the hatchcover into the LE dihedral joint and make the wing a bolt-on. I've never been a big fan of rubber-banded on wings.