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Lloyd- I disagree with Dan-San on this one. For one thing, there is a sample of fabric from 425/17 with a leading edge tape.
Dan-San and I agree there was a seam at the front of the wing because we think 1.3 meter linen was used to cover the 1.0 meter chord wings. (Langdon Badger thinks they used wider fabric, so no seam required at both the front and rear, only at one edge.) From this piece of 425/17fabric, it appears the fabric was first sewn together for use on the trailing edge and then pulled and sewn together on the leading edge much like the belly seam. As a matter of fact, when I first saw the photos of the 425/17 wing leading edge specimen, I though it was a belly seam. On 425/17, this seam was covered by a leading edge tape, and on close examination, the coarse and angled stitches could be clearly seen through the leading edge tape. I believe you have seen the same photos. These leading edge tapes are very difficult to see because most were painted the same color as the wings. I believe some were dipped in a dark color (black, olive) before application and then used as a demarcation line or, more likely, applied after olive streaking and light blue were applied to close off the seam and prevent airflow from separating the leading edge stitches. The fabric on the leading edge had been folded back top and bottom to give a stronger seam.
Not all Triplanes appear to have had a leading edge tape, and on some photos you can see what looks like the seam of the top and bottom pieces of fabric fairly plainly.
So you now have two points of view, both using similar evidence.
Taz
Terry Phillips
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