Tie down points

[MalcD]

Hi all. I have owned my Nipper, G-BWCT since July and I am enjoying it immensely, Niel Spooner is right about the grin!
My question is about tie down points/brackets. Mine doesn’t have any. I have seen pictures of other nippers with these on the ends of the wings. Not knowing the construction of the wings, can anyone please tell me how I go about fitting some
Best wishes to all you “Nipperer’s”
And happy lockdown
Malcolm

[Paul1954]

Malcolm - I no longer have drawings of the Nipper wing construction, so may not have a 100% correct answer. The tie-down plate is screwed onto the end rib (no. 9?), using brass screws. Within the rib should already be a small ash block that is sandwiched between the plywood that surfaces the spruce rib construction.

The plates are simple mild steel items made of about 16 swg plate. Be sure to use proper wood screws and be careful not to shear them when setting. I always used a mild steel wood screw one size smaller first, then used beeswax to lubricate the threads of the brass screw.

[MalcD]

Hi Paul.
Thanks for your reply. I don’t want to compromise the integrity of the wing. Probably best to look at another one “in the flesh” and take a measurement of where it is fixed exactly. It does feel solid in the general area of the one I saw a picture of on the forum. I would probably make them out of stainless. I was going to use stainless screws, unless you advise against that?
Bees wax is a great idea to lubricate them

[Paul1954]

Hi Malcolm - own experience is that if there has been repair/refurb work it may not have been done to origin condition. I mention brass wood screws because that is what would have been used originally. Anything otherwise is between you and your inspector. Candle wax is also a good lubricant for brass screws.

I’m sure there must be someone on the site who can help you with the required fragment of the rib drawing.

Update... This image may help you locate the position of any existing holes. It could be that the screws are in fact csk head screws with nuts that can be accessed through the fabric coved hole.

619A7922-1068-45F8-BC2B-939D201F2F4A.jpeg (85.01 KiB) Viewed 4265 times

[MalcD]

Hi Paul.
Brilliant! Thank you for that, I’ll have a closer look next time I’m there.
Malcolm

[Paul1954]

You are welcome Malcolm. Don’t take too much away from the fact that the fitting is I place and the wing fabric work is unfinished. I moved house during the rebuild and carried the on the roof of the car - hence the need for tie-down fittings.