Sling TSiLittle Betty

Wing session

Finished riveting up the left wing fuel tank.

Wing session

I worked on preparing the left fuel tank for final riveting and sealing.

Wing session

I've finished riveting on the right wing

Wing session

Tonight was a night of tiny projects. I was able to get all of the AN fittings installed into the left fuel tank. I was also able to get the landing and taxi light wired up and mounted into the right wing. Little project projects big progress!

Wing session

I completed a aligning and final riveting of the right flap and the right on. I was amazed at how well they lined up with little to no effort!

Wing session

I pulled the left tank off the wing and ran another bead of proseal around all the edges making sure to hit the corners heavily. That seems to be a problem area. I’ll let that all set up and install the internal plumbing… the fuel pickup, vent, and return lines. After that, I’ll rivet the back channel in. I’m hoping to have the tanks done by the time I leave for OSH. It’s unlikely though I’ll get to pressure testing the left tank as I want that to dry for a week or more. Fingers crossed I know what I’m doing now and there’s no leaks in tank two! #fueltank #wing

Wing session

Finished riveting up the left side wing tank

Wing session

I finished getting the internal skeleton of the left wing tank finished.

Wing session

Wing session

I got the left wing tank riveted up and fitted into the wing. The next step is clear drill all the holes take the wing tank back off of the wing and then seal it. Hopefully the ceiling will go better now that I know what the heck I'm doing.

Wing session

Third round of chasing a tank leak! Also worked on dimpling the left tank skin. #fueltank

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Continue to chase down the leak on the right wing tank. Also did some riveting on the top skin of the left wing. I decided to switch out the stock fuel senders for a set of CiES senders. https://ciescorp.net/ The are way easier to install and the company claims fuel accuracy to 1/10 of a gallon. They seem way more robust than the kit supplied units. #fueltank

Wing session

Wing session

Today was a pretty substantial day. I got the Pio system all wired up and all the electrical wiring laid into the left wing. I was also able to build standoffs so the wires don't interfere with Peter tubes and vice versa. I should be ready to start closing up the left wing and installing the top wing skin this weekend. I'll also be able to retest the right fuel tank to see if I sealed up all the leaks. #wingskin

Wing session

I got the end rib set in and clear drilled. And I fitted up the wing tip and got those holes drilled as well. Tomorrow I'll rivet the whole thing together.

Wing session

I did some skin preparation and internal skeleton preparation for the left fuel tank

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

All the rivets on the bottom skin have been set up and just need to be pulled. That's the end of the session!

Wing session

Worked in cleckoimg in and preparing the bottom skin for riveting.

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

So with the right fuel tank completely sealed and drying, I need to wait about a week before I can test it. Now it's on the left flap. After that the only thing remaining for the wings is gonna be the left wing.

Wing session

I pretty much wrapped up the tank today. It was a continued gooey awful stinky nasty mess but it's done! The only thing I have to do with the tank is to attach some of the brackets on the rear side which involves a little bit more prose but not a lot. It's almost there! #fueltank

Wing session

Starting on the left aileron while the tank pro seal dries.

I cycled between sealing the tank and building the left aileron. Getting the tank together and sealed properly has been time consuming, tedious and messy but it needs to be done right. I have no desire to revisit a leaky tank!!

Wing session

I started working on sealing the tank yesterday. It’s a messy job! I’m breaking from that waiting to get a clear uninterrupted block to finish. Today I’m going to work on the ailerons.

Continue work filling in rivet holes. There’s A LOT of them!!

Working on filling in the rivets while I wait on a pro seal kit. That should be here tomorrow.

Wing session

Wing session

Getting all the parts dry fit and ready for the tank sealing process.

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

I was able to get the nose. Skin riveted onto the outer tip of the right wing. Next step is the fuel tank!

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

I finished reventing the bottom skin to the right wing

Wing session

I got to a good spot to stop the riveting. About half of the bottom wing skin rivets are set and in place.

Wing session

Wing session

I finished dumping all of the bottom wing skins. Whoa! #riveting #wingskins

Wing session

Wing session

I riveted the rear spa in place as well as all the ribs and fit it up the skin support bracket, and test fit the root rib trailing edges.

Wing session

Wing session

I installed half of the ribs mostly the ones from rib one to rib six to test fit. The next step is to begin riveting ribs one through six onto the main spa. #wing

Wing session

I completed assembling all of the ribs for the right hand wing. I also prepared the other ribs that didn’t need assembly for attachment to the spa.

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

Wing session

ID bird the majority of the real rear spa parts. The only thing left to do is to clean them and get the sticky label go off. And then we can Cleco the structure together.

Wing session

Rudder session

Rudder session

Rudder session

Rudder session

Other session

Vertical Stabilizer session

Test routes the strobe wiring through the vertical stabilizer. Need to call Mid-west about the coax cable that also needs to run through to support the VOR antenna. #wiring #midwestpanel

And today it begins the plane showed up at least the wings and the elevator and we are stoked to get going!