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Rear fuselage: rib 2,3,4,5 and longeron 8

TLDR

  • Built rear fuselage ribs 2-5
  • Built longeron assembly 8
  • And misc inventory

Details

Ribs 2 - 5

I built the ribs using the jig from the smallest to the largest. It took surprisingly long for each rib, partially because the parts were fairly delicate and cleaning took a while, and also because I spent a long of time looking for parts.

Rib 5

Rib 5 was uneventful. After cleaning the parts, I clecoed the parts to the jig and riveted them together.

img Rib 5 on the jig

Rib 4

This was a tough one. It has more parts, and requires a guide bushing for the elevator tube.

I spent an entire night tracking down the bushing but just couldn’t find it. I then asked on Facebook builder group, and some builder said it came in the same bag as the rest of the rib 4 parts. So this bushing is definitely missing in my kit.

I logged the missing part in SlingSHOT and built everything else on the rib 4. Hopefully the bushing will arrive soon so I can wrap on this rib.

img Rib 4 on the jig

Rib 3

Rib 3 was easy. I followed Evan’s video and skipped a few holes to rivet. I am not sure when I need to rivet those holes. I will keep an eye out for those.

Rib 2

Rib 2 doesn’t have a jig, I just riveted the parts together on a table. This rib is angled. It’s SUPER soft and bendy. I am actually worried the bend line will have a lot of stress before I put skin on…

img Bending line on rib 2

img When the rib is laid flat, I put a yoga block on the top like pillow to provide some support to the bend

Longeron

Concern on inventory

The next step is to build longeron 8. So I opened the plastic tube containing the longerons.

I immediately found some damage on parts.

img Bent tab

img The other side

This is RF-STR-003-L-F-0. I have not yet found out what this part is for yet. But I am concerned about the bend, and I will send a question to sling tech support.

Longeron 8

On the other hand, I found the part for Longeron 8 assembly, and quickly put them together.

img Longeron 8 assembly

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