Has anyone built ribs or some other support in their wingtips? I just upgraded from the old flat top style to the newer shear tips from Vans and they are very flimsy. How or what is the best way to add some stiffeners?
I used 1/2" pink foam board from Lowes. Peeled off the plastic, glassed both sides, cut to shape, then used 2" fiberglass tape and glassed in place. The tips are quite large and I was concerned they may flex and crack the paint.
I too replaced 7 tips with the older 6 flat tops ones. I too felt they were a bit flimsy so on the inner surfaces of the top and bottom I glassed in a thin foam sandwich. worked great, an I think it is lighter then the rib method.
I had some Parabeam 3D cloth I used to reinforce the tips on my rocket. Worked great but the Parabeam cloth is hard to come by. I don't know where one can get it in the USA.
There is a history of sagging. Lots of Sagging. Particularly with dark colored paints. Also when moving in soft ground, say the grass at AirVenture, grabbing the wingtips is common to move plane forward. The shear tips will fold and crack your paint in the right conditions, about 6" forward of the trailing edge.
I used foam board.
I see. Can I trouble one of you to please post photos of your mod? I'm about a month or two away from installing my wingtips, and I'm having trouble picturing the mods you are describing.
A few problem I see with that.
1. Cost
2. Complexity
3. Many, like me, have lots of stuff in that tip. Antennas, wire, etc.
4. Weight
A very simple piece of foam board from Lowes. Trace general shape using the wingtip profile. Cut. Sand to fit. Light coat of epoxy on the ends to hold it in place. Really its a 15 min job. I would not try to over think this. The support for sagging only needs to be from the trailing edge fwd, about 22".