Case study: wing ribbing

 From:  JPBWEB
2736.1 
Hi all, I am trying to model an old style aircraft wing with ribbing, i.e. canvas stretched on wing ribs. While it is a breeze to generate a split-second full wing with a curve network, and not much trouble to generate an upper wing with a 2-rail sweep, putting in the ribbing is more of a challenge. I got a reasonably fine output with a 2-rail sweep with a scaling rail that has all the required pinches and curves, it does not exactly gets me the result I need.



I tried several point control gimmicks with the scaling rail, that gave le the corresponding change in shape, but I feel I am missing some control, as the ribbing is constant across the wing and goes from zero to zero elevation from rail to rail, while I probably would want this to leave a bit of smooth wing on both the leading and the trailing edges.

Has anybody a suggestion on how best to tackle this to achieve an effect like in this fine model of a WWI French aircraft?


Thanks in advance,

Jean-Paul