Wing Jig - Released 02/10/20

[Andy G 427]

We've recently started work developing a new jig aimed at aligning wings and helping to ensure that each side is angled correctly.  The photos below show the first developments on the tail plane.  The jig will also aid the setting up of the main plane.

It is early days in the development of this jig and we are very much open to ideas and suggestions. The plane shown is the 1:72 Hawker Hector from A Model.

The initial development will be aimed at 1:72 but we intend to also produce it for 1:48 and possibly large scales.

[Heather Kay 12,064]

Ooh! I’ve got about a gazillion kits which this will be handy for. Expect an order from me when you get into production. 

[Andy G 427]

Latest developments on the wing jig include altering the slots for the tail plane and vertical clamps to give increased variety of positioning and also a U shaped prop to help hold the fuselage in place and stop it bobbing up and down.  Uprights have been drawn and cut for the main plane part of the jig and seem satisfactory after a quick play.  Hopefully more thorough testing will also be successful and we will be able to get this into production before the end of August (2020!).

 

[BritJet 2,870]

That's looking good and I will definitely get one when it's available.

 

A couple of suggestions, if I may;

 

1. Would it be possible to extend the slots of the centre fuselage clamps so that a larger diameter can be accomodated. I know you are considering a larger jig for 1/48 scale but there is a wide range of fuselage sizes in 1/72.

 

2. Could a grid of calibration lines be added to all the triangular pieces to aid aligning the fuselage, tailplane and wings. Horizontal lines would match up to fuselage panel lines to check the centreline is on the vertical axis and also help check the wing/tailplane is horizontal if a straight edge is laid across the tips from one side to the other. Vertical lines would help to ensure that any sweepback/stagger is correct.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Steve

[Andy G 427]

On 7/8/2020 at 7:17 PM, BritJet said:

A couple of suggestions, if I may;

 

1. Would it be possible to extend the slots of the centre fuselage clamps so that a larger diameter can be accomodated. I know you are considering a larger jig for 1/48 scale but there is a wide range of fuselage sizes in 1/72.

 

2. Could a grid of calibration lines be added to all the triangular pieces to aid aligning the fuselage, tailplane and wings. Horizontal lines would match up to fuselage panel lines to check the centreline is on the vertical axis and also help check the wing/tailplane is horizontal if a straight edge is laid across the tips from one side to the other. Vertical lines would help to ensure that any sweepback/stagger is correct.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Steve

Thanks for the comments, Steve.  Regarding the fuselage capacity, the current design will take upto a 46mm width.  For info I've just calculated that a Hercules should have a width of just under 61mm.  I'll have a look to see if the design will accommodate an increase to 65mm.

Calibration lines on the uprights - took me a while to work it out but I can see where you are coming from and can see the use, so I'll apply them.  However, I need to get the main design finished and the required uprights rationalised as I seem to have generated enough to cause confusion and a storage issue!

 

Here's the latest work showing the main planes being fitted on 1:72 Hudson.  

Front uprights get the dihedral matching, rear uprights (on the main plane) stop the wings rotating around the single spar.  The port wing was a tightish fit on the spar so stayed where it was put not really needing the rear upright. The starboard was loose and revealed the need for the neoprene to provide grip on the rear upright.

The basics of the design appear to work, once the Hudson wings have set I'll try it with a Lancaster and then a Wiking.  The latter will throw up issues as it's a big plane with a high wing.

 

Cheers

Andy

EBMA Hobby & Craft

[Andy G 427]

The Wing Jig should be released next week.  In the meantime here are some photos of it in use

Horizontal Stabilisers and Elevators (Airfix Jaguar GR1 1:72)

Main Plane (Revel Wiking BV222 1:72, but a very big plane)

 

There are lots of different supports with this to cater for various size planes and we have therefore built a drawer into the jig to house all of the associated bits.

[Andy G 427]

I am pleased to announce that today we have released the Wing Jig.

 

It's available from our website.

 

[BritJet 2,870]

Looks good Andy, I'll be sending you an order later today.

 

Steve

[Jinxman 2,794]

Got mine, mostly assembled - it looks like a cracking tool - will be using it soon on my Heller Ouragan. 

[Heather Kay 12,064]

Mine just arrived. I got a real kick out of the packaging. Everything is recyclable, and there’s no plastics I can see. Well done!

 

Now, should I construct it or get on with what I should be doing? 

[Mike 16,746]

That looks a bit fancy - love the drawer in the bottom.  Is that for the various parts & such?

[Heather Kay 12,064]

I think it is Mike.

 

Good job I decided to make a start putting it together. I think I’m missing some metalwork. I’ll email the guys now. Just a packing error I expect.

 

Edit update: all sorted, bits coming in the post. Great service as always! 

[Andy G 427]

On 10/19/2020 at 2:14 PM, Heather Kay said:

Good job I decided to make a start putting it together. I think I’m missing some metalwork. I’ll email the guys now. Just a packing error I expect.

 

Edit update: all sorted, bits coming in the post. Great service as always! 

Hi Heather,

I'm certainly glad you started putting it together, your's was the first of the second batch and I've missed the nuts and bolts from the whole lot.  They were sent first class yesterday, so hopefully with you today or tomorrow.  My apologies for the inconvenience.

 

On 10/19/2020 at 2:11 PM, Mike said:

That looks a bit fancy - love the drawer in the bottom.  Is that for the various parts & such?

It certainly is Mike - 

Hopefully the parts won't get scattered and lost.

 

On 10/19/2020 at 1:59 PM, Heather Kay said:

 I got a real kick out of the packaging. Everything is recyclable, and there’s no plastics I can see. Well done!

Thanks Heather, we try and it really annoys me when stuff is unnecessarily wrapped in plastic.  Thankfully with the increased awareness more packaging options have become available such as the paper bubble wrap and paper tape that actually sticks.

 

Cheers

Andy

[AliGauld 1,430]

Hi Andy,

 

Just a wee note to say thanks for the wing jig. It arrived earlier this week but I've just had the time to assemble it.

Glue is drying just now but it's a great piece of kit and will be very useful.

 

Again,

Many Thanks,

Cheers,

Alistair

[Fifer54 1,040]

Hi, Andy!

I'm just wondering whether you have any plans to develop a biplane alignment jig? The jig that's the subject of this thread looks an awesome piece of kit, I may well get one when I have the funds spare,

but a biplane jig would be a real boon for me.

[Andy G 427]

Hi @Fifer54, we don't have any plans at the moment, but that's only because I haven't yet thought of an easy to use way of doing it.  I've seen other laser cut jigs but they just look cumbersome to set up.