[rwarre]

Working on getting the trailing edge of my wingtip to match my aileron. I split the end of the wingtip and the outer edge up about 4 inches. Heated the top surface and was able to get the top to match the aileron. However I could not get the lower portion of the wingtip to move enough so it pulls on the upper surface (edge) and the gap is still about ½ inch between the aileron and trailing edge tip. Should I consider cutting the lower part of the wing, making a new form to get everything to match my aileron? Suggestions please.

 

[N890GF]

any pictures?

 

[rwarre]

Pictures

 

[Carl Froehlich]

Did you first verify flap and aileron rigging before fitting the wingtip?
Carl

 

[N890GF]

+1 to what Carl is saying. In IMG_5865 and IMG_5854 it looks like the trailing edge of the flap and aileron are not on the same line. the aileron looks like it tilts up slightly the farther outboard when tracing a line with the trailing edge of the flap

 

[Desert Rat]

It seems like trying to get the tip to move up that much is asking a lot. Are you sure it was clocked properly when it was mounted to the wing? Also, are you sure you built the ailerons without a twist in them? I zoomed in on one of your pictures and it look like you might have something going on with the aileron trailing edge...

 

[wirejock]

Something doesn't look aligned.
But, here's how I got mine aligned.
1/8" aluminum bar cut to match the ailerons and locked to the tooling holes.
2x4 cut to match.
After all the rigging, I locked the surfaces to the bar.
Split the wing tip.
Applied G-Flex
Mounted the tip
Locked it all with the blocks.
Cure
Next day, they were perfectly aligned. Just a bunch of fiberglass work. First I hung the tips so the trailing edges were level and applied flox in the edge to bond and allow some material for finishing.

 

[Ralph Inkster]

Did you first verify flap and aileron rigging before fitting the wingtip?
Carl

Has the plane flown yet? Have you checked & adjusted for any wing heavy conditions yet? I’d do all that first. Secure the tip as is & do initial flight tests before doing the chop shop fixes.

On one plane I also had an old Horner style pair of tips that weren’t stored on edge, it tended to squash the leading edge curve to not properly fit with the front of the wing causing the trailing edge to misalign like yours (though not as severe as yours.
I fixed the problem (after flight testing!) by strapping the tip in place (unscrewed), applying heat to the tip front & forcing the tip leading edge to rotate downward around the wing leading edge lifting the trailing edge into alignment. Many hands were involved to apply force where necessary & all the nutplates (easy because they were riveted to thin aluminum strips & only secured to the fiberglass every fifth nutplate) had to be moved as necessary. Fiberglass holes easily repaired as necessary.
It flew & looked just fine after all this mucking around.