I clecoed my top skins on today, in order to plan the scarf joint. With the LE on and the tank installed, the skins met up pretty darn well--I'd say 1/64th" or less. I can hardly nick it with a finger nail.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has skipped the scarf altogether, or if I've got something mis-aligned or screwed up? Am I setting up a mistake down the line or did I just get lucky?
I skipped it. I did scuff it with scotchbrite, and shot it with some 7220, but I did not bevel anything to make it sit more flush. It didn't seem necessary for me either.
I've seen some QB wings that look worse than mine...
joe,
I scarfed mine and glad I did. If you don't, it will leave a small lip in the slipstream creating some drag. Also you will see it when the paint is on it
But it's your plane, do what you want!
Dan
MTC. If a scarf is called for there may be a good reason for it. One that comes to mind is that with one skin overlapping the other the abrupt edge and rise will act as a wear point. Aircraft are subjected to a lot of vibration so a condition that looks benign now may turn out to be a small hole or worse a crack later on. Picky A&P's that I've known have had a tendency to call those kind of conditions “not flight worthy” My choice has been to scarf any place a scarf is called out for and hopefully skip that kind of repair down the road. I don't think the scarfed joints are there so much to make the overlaps look pretty.
I went back and reread my notes from that day, and I remembered incorrectly on this. I DID make the scarf on the top skins. I think I remember thinking that I wasn't going to do it for the same reason you asked this question and started the thread. So I think you are doing the right thing here.
