Comm Antenna Mount

Some number of months ago, I created a miscellaneous parts board, made from a recycled shipping container cover. It is home to a number of loose parts that are still in sub-kit bags, but either I haven’t needed the parts yet, or I haven’t figured out what they’re for.

Having closed out most of the rear fuselage, I turned my attention to the comm antenna mount. I had the spade-shaped plate ready to install (part #4 in the first picture below), but it didn’t seem like it provided enough reinforcement for the antenna.

In the Sling TSi build manual page D20, the model shows what looks like a reinforcement plate, though it’s not mentioned anywhere nor does it show up on the parts list. Turns out, this is part RF-ANG-020-C-C-1, “Antenna Support Angle”, and it’s definitely needed. I happened upon a blog post on Craig M’s site, which confirms the need to install this plate. The Sling 4 build manual doesn’t mention nor show this part at all.

Reinforcement angle for the antenna - shown in the diagram, but not on the parts list
Reinforcement angle for the antenna – shown in the diagram, but not on the parts list

This reinforcement plate has been on my misc parts board, in a bag labeled “Longeron 1 Parts”, but I didn’t realize this part was for the antenna on the roof. You could say it was hiding in plain sight!

The misc parts board, where the comm backing plate was hiding in plain sight
The misc parts board, where the comm backing plate was hiding in plain sight
Missing angle that I need to install - notice that the skins are already riveted where they overlap
Missing angle that I need to install – notice that the skins are already riveted where they overlap

Since I had made progress on closing out the rear fuselage, it was going to be a pain to install this plate. Luckily, I hadn’t fully riveted the upper skins, but still I had to drill out a good number of rivets to get enough access to put in this plate. The tails of the rivets fall off when you drill them out, so I had to drill out even more rivets to gain access to the floor of the rear fuselage so that I could vacuum up all the rivet tails. I also had to remove (tear!) some carpeting in the luggage area, since this carpeting was attached to this upper skin. About 2 hours of negative progress in total.

I had to remove carpeting from this panel to clean out the drilled rivet tails and peel back the skin
I had to remove carpeting from this panel to clean out the drilled rivet tails and peel back the skin
I had to remove enough rivets to that I could open up the skin this much
I had to remove enough rivets to that I could open up the skin this much
Reinforcement angle in its proper location
Reinforcement angle in its proper location
Put back together
Put back together

The mounting location seems much stiffer now, and much more suitable for installing an antenna. I will probably leave this skin clecoed for a few more days, to make sure I don’t discover anything else missing.

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