Making the Wing Rib Corner Blocks

After all the compression tubes and drag wires are in place and adjusted, I'll glue corner blocks in place around each rib, turning the wing into a stiff, strong, G-pulling monster. Just make sure things are lined up before that!

Several places throughout the instructions, you'll read something like "These are available from B.O.A.C." (Barney Oldfield Aircraft Company) Yeah, right! Of course, they don't exist anymore and Aircraft Spruce (who owns the rights to the plans) doesn't have and can't make some of these things. One of the things in question is the corner blocks for the upper wings. Remember, those wings are swept 6°. So, half the corner blocks need to be 96° and the other half 84°. Gotta make 'em yourself. I just used the piece of wood I made on the table saw which I used to cut the angles in the nose ribs for the upper wing. I cut the long (6-foot) pieces of corner block material in half to make it more manageable and, after sanding it on my oscillating belt sander, chopped it into small pieces.

Sanding the 84° angle.

Making the 96° angle.

The chop saw is one tool I would highly recommend for anyone building an airplane.

Blocks of different lengths for different locations. Still need to make some
really short ones for where the leading edge spruce strip fits into the nose ribs.