I decided awhile back to make the connections at fuselage spar to wing spar bigger and with larager bolts. The straps are 1 1/4" wide. The holes were increase from 3/16" to 3/8" and from 1/4" to 1/2". This was to get a stronger connection in the wood and to have a larger bolt at the wing - fuselage connection. I drew it all out in ACAD and made up the metal pieces out of 1/8" hardboard to do a dry fit. I found out the bolt (through the wood) and closet to the spar splice was too close to get washers on. Had to move the bolt up the strap to make it all fit. Will work up another dry fit in a few days. Sure glad I tried out the fit before I drilled the holes in the spruce spars.
The spar pieces you see were planed down to the same size as the spruce spars. Made from SP-S.
I also go a speicl drill guide that was supposed to drill perfectly perpendicular holes. I gave it try on teh piece you see on teh right. Stuck a drill bit in the hole and brought out my trusty square. About 3/32" out of plumb over the length of a drill bit. Took the thing back to Rockler. When I drill the actual holes, I am going to set up my small drill press, tune it up, and run the bits through the metal straps when I get them.
