Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Monday night I got the nose skin drilled on the wing. I also finished the pilot holes from the nose skin into the top part of the spar.

The kit that Zenith provides has the front edge of the top skin predrilled, but not the nose skin. This is a problem since the nose skin overlaps on top of the top skin. The get around this before placing the nose skin, the top skin had several holes drilled into it into the spar which were marked with a sharpie on the skin.

When the nose skin was ratcheted on, I slipped it underneath the top skin and drilled those few holes using the lowest speed of my drill so I could find the matching spar hole beneath it.

Once those holes were clecoed, I then drilled lightly through the skin, trying not to enter the spar.

Once all the holes were matched, I slipped the nose skin over top the top skin, clecoed through the skin into the few holes that were in the spar, and then drilled through the remaining matched holes into the spar.

To help move the nose ribs into place, I made a hook out of some PVC that was laying around.

A few days ago I ordered my fuselage kit along with the bubble door option. I also ordered Jon "Crash" Croke's fuselage construction DVDs. I'll have a review up in the next week or so.

Also on it way are inspection plates and my lighting system. I decided on going with a ready solution since I would still have to match a driver unit and get the lenses.

Here is the Wick's page on the GS LED unit I will use: http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/product_cat.php/subid=7000/index.html

Project Status:
Wings: ~111h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 2h, 1h, 3h, 2h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~212.5

Monday, July 02, 2007

There was no working on the "Sky Jeep" over the weekend. Instead, the real Jeep was taken out and given a proper workout.

Picasa has now added the ability to not automatically start the embedded slide shows. Please hit play or forward to navigate.




Tuesday, June 26, 2007

It took about two hours to get the skins back on, clecoed into place, get the nose skin on and drill the bottom of the nose ribs.

On this wing the bottom spar has not been drilled yet, spare about a dozen holes ( A3 ) to keep everything from beer canning.

This will add the extra steps of having to take the skins off again... and put them back on again before riveting, but should make for a better fit.

Project Status:
Wings: ~109h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 2h, 1h, 3h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~210.5

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Look Mom, no clecos! We spent about three hours on Sunday finishing some deburring, corrosion protecting, and riveting.

About mid afternoon, about 15 minutes after hauling the bottom wing skins, spar, and a few other pieces out... and spraying them... the skies opened up with a freak rain storm. All the pieces were quickly taken back into the garage and dried off.

A good bit of time was spent using the lessons learned from the other wing and attempting to get the rivet order correct. The brackets on the fuel tank channel and rear channels were done first, followed by the flaperon brackets to the ribs, followed by the ribs into the spar.

The rear channel needs to be done in a specific order: work from inboard to out board leaving the outboard side of the channel being riveted unclecoed so the channel can be pushed for clearance of the gun head. Since it is easily accessible, the root rib should be riveted last to the wing channel.

Project Status:
Wings: ~107h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 2h, 1h, 3h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~208.5

Thursday, June 21, 2007

No building Wednesday night, just flying.

Thursday is the solstice, so I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful lighting conditions that occur in the northwest.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

EAA 1440 met tonight with a talk by Precision Airmotive. Honestly it was more info about carbs and fuel injection that I hopefully will ever need to know.

Due to the meeting, I only spent about an hour actually working on the plane. All wing parts ( except for the spar and skins ) were corrosion protected. The rest of the time was spent watching paint dry.

All the wing ribs, brackets and channels amazingly fit into a produce delivery box.

Project Status:
Wings: ~104h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 2h, 1h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~205.5

Monday, June 18, 2007

We spent another two hours deburring. The skins still need attention, and everything still needs Zinc Chromate.

Project Status:
Wings: ~103h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~204.5

Sunday, June 17, 2007

We spent about three hours finding more holes that needed to be enlarged to A5 or A4 while starting the deburring and disassembly of the left wing.

There was a light drizzle today so none of the parts were corrosion protected.

The garage needs to be rearranged so the left wing can be hung as well, so the shelves will have to be moved with perhaps some more storage.

Project Status:
Wings: ~101h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h, 3h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~124.5 hours
We spent two hours on the project and made great progress. The jury strut supports are now in and all of the skeleton has been drilled to the proper hole size. The skeleton is now ready for deburring and can be riveted along with the bottom skin.

We also crossed over the 200 hour mark of the project.

Project Status:
Wings: ~98h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~202.5 hours

Thursday, June 14, 2007

We spent an hour first cutting the the 8 pieces of L angle, then positioning the flaperon arms with the template, then verifying the position of the arms with string..... then drilling the arms into place.

With this wing the flaperon arms were more forward on the brackets, so I drilled an additional hole into the arms to compensate for the holes I did not feel to have adequate edge distance.


Project Status:
Wings: ~96h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 1h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~199.5 hours

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

It took about two hours to get the strut angle in place and drilled. The strut attach point is also now pilot drilled to the support. Most of the time was spent waiting for the compressor since the right angle attachment wastes a large amount of energy and drilling out various holes to A4 so A3 clecos could be reclaimed.

I think I have my lights picked out. A set of LEDs offered by Wicks. LED lighting is one of those "must haves" given the limited output of the Rotax alternator and the expected draw from the Dynon and radios.

Project Status:
Wings: ~95h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~198.5 hours

Monday, June 11, 2007

We were camping all weekend, so Friday night was all we got in until today ( Monday ). Two hours were spent getting the bottom edge of the front nose skin in. I had only drilled a few holes in the spar from the bottom skin, so it was easy to get the entire skin lined up. The strut support hole had to be enlarged on the inboard side exactly like on the other wing, but this time I bolted on the strut attachment with the skin off, saving time and frustration.

The strut angle is marked and ready to be drilled. The only issue is that we are running low on silver clecos ( AGAIN!?!?!?!? ), so more A3s had to be enlarged to A4s. This helped eliminate some of the ( very limited ) beer canning anyway.

And now for some purty pictures:



Project Status:
Wings: ~93h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~196.5 hours

Friday, June 08, 2007

I finally found some energy to get back into the garage. It took about two hours to get the rear bottom skins drilled into place. The biggest time sinks were having to cleco myself and reclaiming silver clecos. It is hard to imagine that we are low on A3 clecos again, but we are. To get clecos back I drilled some holes out to A4s.

When you are placing your holes for the outboard side of the flaperon brackets the manual states that the hole is 10mm from the bracket, but there is a better way of finding the hole. Simply extend your rivet line from the ribs down to the rear channel. Drill where the two lines intersect.


Project Status:
Wings: ~91h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~194.5 hours

Monday, May 28, 2007

I spent about two hours on Sunday getting the trailing edge skins ready on the right wing. They are all ready to be drilled.

This week will be light on the building. More to follow.

Project Status:
Wings: ~89h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h, 2h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~192.5 hours

Friday, May 25, 2007

It took me an hour on Thursday to cleco the left wing skeleton back into one piece. Then I went flying for a couple of hours...

Friday we spent about four hours getting both the top and bottom skins into place and drilled. I learned my lesson this time and only drilled a few holes into the spar on the top skin. The bottom skin also only has a few holes drilled into the spar, although it did not cause any problems last time.

The left wing went much faster and we had a much easier time getting the flange lines into place.

Thursday I did another cross country in a Super Cub, this time to Whatcom lake and Lake Cavanaugh near the Canadian border.



Project Status:
Wings: ~87h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 4h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~190.5 hours

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

I once again spent my afternoon in a Super Cub... with an 84" prop.

We had lunch at Lake Wynooche in the Olympic Mountains while talking shop in a way that satisfied my BFR.

Is there a better way of spending the day?



In project news I have the nose skin now in place. Only a few of the holes for the slat support and the spar extension need to be placed.

Those fuel tanks are just around the corner!
I spent about an hour Tuesday morning struggling with the nose skin, only succeeding in giving it more "smilies". I ended up calling Zenith and realized that I needed to use a loop strap that wrapped around the wing.

Later in the afternoon I made a trip to Home Depot for new straps. I placed some wood up against the flaperon brackets to protect the trailing edge and everything worked well. I slipped the nose skin underneath the top skin and have had good success with the existing spar holes. I am simply using low speed on the drill and stopping as soon as I feel the nose skin being penetrated. I then inserted a cleco and searched for the existing spar hole.

My after noon was spent with a Cub Crafters Top Cub on the Snohomish River. Today I have a couple of hours and am going to take care of that pesky BFR.




Step Taxi near the 522 bridge





Taking off





Project Status:
Wings: ~82h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h, 1h, 1h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
-----------------------
Total Done: ~185.5 hours

Monday, May 21, 2007

Some photos from Paine Field's General Aviation day that was held on Saturday the 19th.


It took one hour to get the jury strut attachment ( 7v10-4SP ) points into place. The plans were a little hard to read, and the presence of predrilled holes further exacerbated the issue. A partial solution for both the front and rear was to drill the middle hole and then cleco it onto the wing. The foreward support then needed to be removed, the nose rib moved into place and then drilled to the skin in two places. Then the cleco that should hold the jury strut had to be removed, the jury strut attachment replaced and then back drilled into from the rib side.

It took four hours to rivet the remaining skeleton and bottom skin. A few A4s were accidentally put where A5s should go, so I had to drill those out.

Currently the nose skin is clecoed to the skeleton. Strapping the nose skin is always the hardest part. To complicate matters I already drilled through the pre-drilled top skin into the rib. To work around this I will drill the skin to the nose ribs first THEN slip the nose skin under the top skin, then mark where a few holes are supposed to go. I will then slip out the skin, drill those few marked holes with an A4 bit, slip the skin back under and cleco the top skin back onto the spar through those holes. Once that is done all the holes on the top skin should align with the existing holes in the spar and the nose skin can be pilot drilled. Once the nose skin is pilot drilled, I will then slip the skin out and place the nose skin over top the top skin. To help I used the edge distance tool to mark where the nose skin should reach.

Project Status:
Wings: ~80h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h, 1h, 4h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
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Total Done: ~183.5 hours

Friday, May 18, 2007

I did my first building since our vacation and recovering from the food poisoning associated with said vacation...

It took three hours to put the wing skeleton back together and rivet the rear channel and the fuel tank channel.

Part of the time was spent drilling out rivets due to some thoughtlessness on the rivet order. Here is what I learned:

  • Rivet the rear channel and their angles first.
  • Rivet the (L) angle to the fuel tank channel second.
  • Rivet the Fuel tank channel to the ribs before riveting the rear wing channels to the ribs. This allows easier access on the inboard side with a pneumatic gun.
  • Rivet the flaperon support brackets before riveting the wing channels.
  • With the wing right side up, rivet the rear channel to the ribs from the outboard working your way inboard. Have the inboard piece of the channel you are riveting disconnected so you can push the nose of the gun inside. Use a hand riveter with a swivel head to get the heavy channel that has the strut support.
  • Have someone else help you so you don't have to put down the rivet gun!

Project Status:
Wings: ~75h ( 1h, 1h, 0.5h, 2.5h, 4h, 1h, 1.5h, 1h, 1.5, 4.5, 1h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 1h, 3h, 1h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1h, .5h, .5h, 2h,3h, 1h, 3h, 3h, 4h, 2h, 3h, 7h, 3h )
Flaperons: ( DONE! ) 23.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1h, 1h, 1h, 1.5h, 3h, 6h, 3h, 4h, 1h )
Paint Design: 2 hours spent ( 1h, 1h )
Elevator DONE!: ~31.5 hours spent ( 3h, 1.5h, 3h, .5h, 3.5h, 2h, 4h, 1.5h, 2h, 4.5h, 1h, 6h )
Horizontal Stabilizer DONE!: ~28 hours spent, 3 pieces replaced ( 3h, 2h, 2h, 2h, .5h, 1.5h, 3.5h, 1.5h, 5, 4.5, 2h, .5h )
Rudder DONE!, minus horn : ~16 hours spent, ( ~8h, ~8h )
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Total Done: ~178.5 hours