Techniques for
Attaching Wings

by Floyd S. Werner Jr.

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Somebody recently asked on HyperScale's "Plane Talking" Discussion Group how to glue wings to the fuselage. What follows is my response that may be useful.

Here are some methods I have used to join a wing to fuselage. As everyone I'm sure has a preferred method these are just different ways to do it.

Method 1-Dry Fit, Dry Fit, Dry Fit

Do not apply any glue until the join fits on it's own. Then apply a small amount of liquid cement to the join. Let capliary action work for you. You will need to glue the join in various places dependent on the size of kit. Now don't press the joint except to slightly align the join, if necessary.

If any of the slurry (cement and melted plastic) squeezes up don't worry about it. Once it dries you can easily remove it with a hobby knife. If you don't like the way the area looks or the alignment remove the wing and allow the surfaces to dry and try again. You may have to sand the mating surfaces if you do this. A sanded joint glues better than one straight off the sprue.

Method 2- Top Wings to Fuselage

Attach the top wings to the fuselage root PRIOR to building the wing assembly. Once the upper wing is glued with the fuselage, using liguid cement. This method allows you to glue from underneath the wing. It requires a little bit of patience but this is the best way to get a good root. The drawback is that there may be other areas that will need to filled. One advantage to this method is that you can establish the dihedral (angle) for the wings easily and accurately. Once the upper wings are glued and dried ( I wait a day)then attach the bottom wing assembly. You can reinforce the join with superglue on the underside AFTER the join has dried. DON"T use accelerator though as this will react badly with the liquid glue join. You may have to attach one wing at a time.

Method 3 - Tape-Fixed Dihedral

Build the wings and fuselage as normal and then tape the wings to the fuselage. This sounds like the method you have used, but before you apply any glue apply tape from wing tip to wing tip across the fuselage.

Now, before you glue, align the wing root and when it is finally perfect apply the glue to the root first. Then after it has dried you can apply the rest of the wing to fuselage joint.

A Note About Glues

I use Testor's Liquid Cement or Tenax 7 Liquid Glue. Your choice of glues may be limited, but MEK or Toulene (both harsh chemicals) can be used. Personally, I'd stick with Testor's or Tenax.

Apply the liquid glue with a narrow long bristle pointed brush. Don't use a synthetic brush as it may melt with the glue, use natural hair brushes. I cut the applicator brush out the Testor's before I use it. It is too big to use.

These methods have worked for me. Patience is the common denominator. Don't force a wing into position as it will crack or break right after you put on the paint or at some other inappropriate time!

Practice and patience are the keys. I hope this helps. Let me know how it turns out.