[Iluke]

A quick question for someone farther along. I just finished the fuselage bulkheads and the next step in the plans is to bend the longerons. I'm just wondering if there is a need to do that now, or could I put it off until later. It looks to me like I don't need the longerons until I go to join the aft and center fuselages. My concern it storing the long, awkward fragile bent longerons until then and not damaging them. If I can leave them "raw" until I need them I can keep them stored where they've been.

So, is there any reason I'm not aware of that I shouldn't delay bending the longerons until later?

thanks

 

[wjb]

The bend isn't too extreme - they are still pretty straight when done. I had mine hung from some hooks on the ceiling of the garage. Pulled the raw ones down, bent them, and put them back up until needed.

 

[Flying Canuck]

No reason not to wait. You don't need the longerons bent until you join the aft and center fuselage. They're a bit more awkward to store after the bend, but it's not that bad. I just installed my longerons yesterday, that's when it really starts looking like an airplane is taking over my garage.

 

[wirejock]

Longerons

Agreed. If you use some aligator clamps and join them, they take up very little space.

 

[Ron RV8]

The other plus about waiting is that it is much easier to visualize how they need to be bent if you already have the fuselage sections assembled...

 

[Iluke]

Thanks, guys. That's a big help!