Can't put the wings on a 46% Ultimate

[ayrobotech]

This is an odd problem. I have a hangar 9 ultimate biplane. I'm trying to put the wings onto the aluminium joiner tube, but for the life of me, I can't get it in there. Too tight.

Should I just sand down the pipe?? Or is there something I can use to lubricate the pipe to get it into the wing? This is my first giant scale airplane so I'm new to this joiner tube stuff

I don't know what is best.... Its starting to get cold up here in Massachusetts so I'm thinking it might be due to cold shrinkage...

Thanks
David

[smokin]

Tell us more.... Have you had them on before? In warmer temps? Or is this the first time you are attempting to assemble?

[ayrobotech]

This is actually a used plane. I am its third owner. It supposedly has like 40 or 50 flights on it, although to be honest, it looks like it has had less due to the great state that this plane is in...

	Quote: Originally Posted by smokin
	Tell us more.... Have you had them on before? In warmer temps? Or is this the first time you are attempting to assemble?

[adrian]

try use some talk powder - never force!!!

[MODE 1]

Is the tube free of glues or dings?

Is the tube bent ? Put it on a flat surface and roll it gently whilst looking for any gaps between the tube and flat surface. A small degree of bend will not stop it going in the wing socket 1/32 clearance but 1/16 may do if the bend is in the area which fits inside the wing.

Next try inserting the opposite side to see if that is any better in case the tube is slightly oval in shape and not round.

If one wing is ok and the other is not the socket may have glue inside or dirt. If its clean try talc powder on the tube to see if that helps.

When your sure none of the above are causing the problem. Take a length of broom handle and wrap the end with some 600 grade sandpaper, secure with tape and gently work the wing socket in sections down its length. Stop sanding periodically and re try the tube. If you go too far and the tube is slightly loose after sanding. You can rebuild the lost size by dripping some CA inside the socket and spreading around the walls with a length of scrap wood. ALLOW TO BE FULLY DRY before trying the tube again. Don't ever sand the aluminum tube unless theres a raised ding from contact with a hard surface impact.

[ayrobotech]

The tube itself is painted with green paint. It looks like the previous owners sanded off the green paint on the top aluminum joiner but didn't on the lower joiner, which is the one that I'm having problems with. I can try talc powder when I can find some. I don't see evidence that they used talc powder on the wing. It is an odd thing. But I agree, it is being forced too tightly and I don't like it because something is eventually going to snap...

[rcflyguy]

Green paint? Post a pic. when I had my Ultimate, the wing tubes were black

[ayrobotech]

I've attached a picture I took this morning before I went to work. If you zoom in you can see that the joiner tube is dark painted green, almost a forest green. (thats as far as the tube goes into the wing, btw) The guy scratched an "R" in the side of it for the right side with a line to show him the right depth, and where it lines up with the wing is exactly where it should be with 17.12 inches for each wing. (in other words - 17.12 inches - fuse - 17.12 inches).

Thank you all for your help, this has been very helpful

[FireFighterFSFD]

is it paint or anidized? and NEVER SAND THE TUBE! start with getting a wood or steel rod and cutting a slot in one end. then get sand paper and put it in this slot. then put the rod in a high speed hand drill and stick in the wing and pull the trigger. hehe the sand paper will start to sand the sock out little by little just from the centrifugal force. it took like 3 hours for a buddy of mine to do his. his was way tight.
that and talcum powder....(baby powder)

[JoeAirPort]

If it's really only the paint that's keeping it from going on, I'd rather sand the paint than the wing tube sleeve. Paint doesn't add any structural strength. The wing tube aluminum and wing sleeve do.

If it's anodized then I'd leave it. The thickness is microscopic.

[mmcconville]

Some good advice here. The tubes you have arent stock tubes. Ours are anodized black. Best bet is to buy a set of Hangar 9 tubes for the model.

[ayrobotech]

Can one of you guys with one of these measure the length of your lower wing tube to let me know? I'm just curious if it is the right one.