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Step 12Feathers 3
The leading edge is the next part we will tackle.
Picture1 shows how there is a space over the elbow of the wing. I found the best way to cover this with feathers was to first overlap the tube end with whole feathers then cover these with feather trimmings, so that it looks like pictures 3 and 4. This allows for more flexibility and adjustment. Bend the ends of the feathers to make a blind ending for the tube. This bit took a couple of goes to get it right. I used some feather shafts with the feathery parts cut away for structural strength.
I stripped the fronds from feathers by holding the base of the shaft and running a sharp Stanley knife along the edge of the shaft, away from me, on both sides, the result is shown in photo 2.
The stripped feather is very fragile and easily comes apart. if you are patient you can join it back together with your fingers, otherwise you can stick the fragments on separately. Or bin them.
I then applied quite a lot of glue to the backs of these in one long bead and wrapped them around the front side of the leading edge. Pictures 3 and 4 show how they are wrapped around. Make sure you keep them all in the same orientation or it will look strange. Bits often stuck out and needed extra glue.
Start from the wing tip and work inwards, overlapping all the way. Picture 5 shows the area about 8 inches from the wing tip where the leading edge tapers.
When you have done this to both wings then turn them over and cover the backs of the leading edges with whole feathers. Picture 6 shows the wing obliquely from above so that you can see where the whole feathers from the back of the wing join the stripped feathers on the front.
When attaching the feathers remember to observe the direction of those adjacent; there should be no sudden changes of direction and they should all point in the same direction.
Picture1 shows how there is a space over the elbow of the wing. I found the best way to cover this with feathers was to first overlap the tube end with whole feathers then cover these with feather trimmings, so that it looks like pictures 3 and 4. This allows for more flexibility and adjustment. Bend the ends of the feathers to make a blind ending for the tube. This bit took a couple of goes to get it right. I used some feather shafts with the feathery parts cut away for structural strength.
I stripped the fronds from feathers by holding the base of the shaft and running a sharp Stanley knife along the edge of the shaft, away from me, on both sides, the result is shown in photo 2.
The stripped feather is very fragile and easily comes apart. if you are patient you can join it back together with your fingers, otherwise you can stick the fragments on separately. Or bin them.
I then applied quite a lot of glue to the backs of these in one long bead and wrapped them around the front side of the leading edge. Pictures 3 and 4 show how they are wrapped around. Make sure you keep them all in the same orientation or it will look strange. Bits often stuck out and needed extra glue.
Start from the wing tip and work inwards, overlapping all the way. Picture 5 shows the area about 8 inches from the wing tip where the leading edge tapers.
When you have done this to both wings then turn them over and cover the backs of the leading edges with whole feathers. Picture 6 shows the wing obliquely from above so that you can see where the whole feathers from the back of the wing join the stripped feathers on the front.
When attaching the feathers remember to observe the direction of those adjacent; there should be no sudden changes of direction and they should all point in the same direction.
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Nov 19, 2009. 1:54 PMinstangel
says:
LOL at stilleto comment
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