Round Leading Edges
L. F. Randolph
Round leading edges have a definite appeal because they provide additional gluing area for ribs and eliminate the need to round the leading edge after wing construction is complete. Hardwood dowels are too heavy, and soda straws are much too weak. The pictures in the original article show how to make balsa dowels that are just right for the job.
Making balsa dowels
- Use a wide sanding block and roll the balsa strip between the block and the sandpaper with a figure-eight motion. Work along the full length of the strip.
- In just a few passes the strip will become round and true. This technique has long been used by indoor fliers to produce round balsa dowels used for wing mounts.
- Wrap sandpaper around a reference dowel and use it to gang-sand the notches into all the ribs at the same time. This produces a perfect match between the leading edge and the ribs.
- Install the round leading edge using white glue. By using the iron-on technique described in the March 1983 MA and June 1982 MAN, 1/16" balsa sheet can be ironed completely around this leading edge.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
