Vertical spars?

[Hudsonite]

What do you all think about vertical spars? If they're rounded, would they tend to give a smoother look once the skin is on? Do you find that the horizontal spars give something of a bumpy look? The vertical spars are probably more difficult and time consuming, but do you think it would be a good thing? Thanks in advance for your advice.

[SteveH]

My personal "opinion" is they are only practical, and actually mandatory, on the hatch. I covered my spars with 1/4" ply sheeting and then aluminum, and you cannot see the spars in any way. Couldn't even see them with just the sheeting on.

[Miriam C.]

My spars don't show. We use the spars to tie the sides together. How will you facilitate that?

[Tripmaker]

Would a rounded roof, sort of an Airstream look, be possible? That would look cool, but not possible at my skill level.

[Gerdo]

I used horizontal spars and placed them about 6" apart on the curved front.


Sheeted it with 5.2mm Water Resistant Luan and Filon. I never saw bumps or flatspots from the spars. I even did my hatch this way, with only the outside two ribs curved.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Look at Ross's runlight. I think he used both vert and horiz. spars and he has a rounded roof.

[Tripmaker]

What do you all think about vertical spars? If they're rounded, would they tend to give a smoother look once the skin is on? Do you find that the horizontal spars give something of a bumpy look? The vertical spars are probably more difficult and time consuming, but do you think it would be a good thing? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Are you talking about the rear hatch? If so that is what I used, as called for in the generic benroy plans. I have not yet skined it so not sure how it will look.

[Jst83]

Would a rounded roof, sort of an Airstream look, be possible? That would look cool, but not possible at my skill level.

I was thinking that on the next tear. If you cut the spars curved like the ones on the hatch and ran them from sided to side. I think it could work.
It would probably have to have a fiberglass top to get the curve right the full leangth.
Oh well that's the next tear I have to get this one done first. Scott

[Tripmaker]

Jst83...where in Indiana are you?

[Jst83]

Jst83...where in Indiana are you?

Greenfield, about 20 miles east of Indy

[SteveH]

Look at Ross's runlight. I think he used both vert and horiz. spars and he has a rounded roof.

Yep, that has sort of a rounded roof, but it is fabric covered. I'm sure it's light, but wonder how it would hold up long term.

[Hudsonite]

Thanks much for the advice. I'm considering using vertical spars for the rounded parts of the roof, but it seems you all haven't had any big problem with horizontal spars showing "bumps" in the skin. I must say that cutting the horizontal spars and putting them in would be a lot easier, I think, than cutting out the curved vertical spars and trying to get them aligned with the side walls. I have Thanksgiving week off, so I'm gearing up for what I hope will be a productive week! Thanks again! I'm trying to get some pictures as I go, but right now I've made such slow progress that there's not much to show.

[glassice]

if you think you could use fiberglass one just use the out side walls as the molds


look at some of pic in my al

[Miriam C.]

Here is a picture you may like to check out. This is B. Bodemers (Barb.) radius at the top of her tear.



If you do it this way, and use plywood you might want to consider how and where you will put screws. All exposed edges will be the endgrain.

[Hudsonite]

That's a great picture! Thanks. It helps out a lot.