Hi,
We had a similar problem, which turned out to be interference with the
fuel tank. We had installed our tank too low, based on an error in the
manual that was later corrected. The Starboard wing spar would hit the
lower part of the tank shelf (overhang?). Our solution was to build a
special wedge jig and heat gun nozzle arrangement that heated and
modified the shape of the tank in that area.
Regards,
Terry Seaver
A135 / N135TD
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of N914RB
Subject: Europa-List: Trouble fitting wings to fuselage
Hi everybody,
I found a thread in the archives about trouble fitting the wings into
the fuselage but didn't come up with anything that addressed my
situation.
The cockpit module is installed and I have the top temporarily on and
snug.
Following the instructions to set the wing incidence, I've attempted to
insert the wings and insert the pins to hold everything in place while
trial positioning and fitting the wing root pins.
Outside the fuselage, the wing bushings line up fine, and using the two
large pins supplied, can get them to go through both bushings on each
side, although they are VERY tight.
When installing the wings on the plane, however, it takes quite a bit of
jiggling to get the port pin to go in the hole, then upon inserting the
starboard wing and shoving it in as far as possible, the holes just
won't line up. It'll go through the hole on the port spar, but not the
one on the starboard spar. It's about 1/8" shy of going in enough to
line up.
I've reduced material at the end of both spars, removed a bit off the
top and bottom of certain areas of the spar that seemed to be making bad
contact with the fuselage opening, and sanded the openings themselves.
My building buddy, another Europa builder, and I are scratching our
heads on this one.
If they go together outside the fuse, they should go together inside it.
Right?
It can't be where the holes are located inside the cockpit module as
those lines up fine with the first spar bushing. We just can't get the
starboard wing to go in enough for the bushings on that spar to line up.
Even if we do get them lined up, it's a bear to get those pins in and
out.
Any help is much appreciated.
Dan Bish
Kit A144
Tucson, AZ, USA
Mono, short wing.
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