With my son's help we tried to install the left wing. First problem was top of the spar fouled the fuselage just inside the "slot". Looked just a minor tightness, which I could ease with file. After several more attempts I had the wings clearing the obstruction and they could now be inserted to the point where the leading and trailing edge sub spars should engage with slots in the fuselage. Still no fit, so I started filing away at the leading edge tab which seemed to be the cause of the problem. After removing a considerable amount of material (up to 1/8 inch) and still not having got close to getting a fit, I abandoned the task, and retrenched to reconsider.
I consulted the VAF, and no-one else seemed to have had difficulty. I then sent pictures to Vans asking for advice. The consensus was that I should not have removed the material, and that I would now have to disassemble the left wing and fit replacement sub spars. Picture 1 shows where I had removed material.
Obviously removing material from these "tabs" would compromise the rigidity of the wing, allowing the possibility that it could twist under air loads. Not good! On reflection I cannot comprehend what possessed me to pick up a file. All other Vans components had fitted perfectly. So elation, followed by dejection all in the space of a couple of hours.
