Fig. 100
Fig. 101
Figs. 96 to 101.—Arrangement and Details
of Collapsible Monoplane
At the other end of the fuselage is attached the hooks for the elastic, and the wire forming them is also utilised as a protector. The whole construction is made from a 10½-in. length of No. 18 s.w.g. piano wire, reinforced with a strip of thin bamboo, bent to shape over a blue flame and bound with silk tape. The part is shown unbound in [Fig. 101], and [Fig. 102] shows an alternative protector; but it is not so effective.
The main plane is made of bamboo and piano wire of No. 18 s.w.g., and measures 2 ft. 10 in. by 6¼ in. The leading edge is of bamboo 3 ft. 2 in. long, ³/₁₆ in. wide, tapering to ⅛ in. at the ends, with a uniform thickness of ⅛ in. When planed down the length should be heated over a blue flame, and bent to the shape shown in [Fig. 96], the outside of the bamboo being kept on the outside of the curve. The trailing edge should now be attached to the ends of the leading edge, a length of ½ in. being bent up at each end of the wire, and securely bound to the bamboo. The ribs should now be cut from the same gauge wire. The ends should be bent out at an angle so that they may be bound to the leading and trailing edges, as shown in [Fig. 103]; the projecting ends should be about ⅜ in.
Fig. 102
Fig. 103