|
6/1/2005 |
0.5h
|
Started attaching the reinforcement plates to the spar. I put the top plate
on with the AN470-4-5 rivets, which are a pain in the arse to set. I started
on the middle bracket, but had to remove the first one I set. It came out
looking a little odd, with almost a nick in the shop head. Unsure what
caused it. Drilled it out and set a new one. The punches that I bought the
other day make a big difference for drilling out rivets. Quite nice. Still
not looking to spend massive quantities of time until after I've gotten
through the final and performance reviews at work. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/4/2005 |
0.5h
|
Set a few more rivets. Not much. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/5/2005 |
2.5h
|
Finally spent a good chuck of time on the project. Finished putting together
the frame, countersunk the trailing edge piece and made the angle to hold
the trailing edge straight as I set it with pro-seal. Altogether a good day.
I was able to set the inside rivets on the rudder horn without using the pop
rivets, though I will have to use them on the skin attach points. I hosed
one of the bolts that attach the rudder counter weight and will have to
order a new one. The screwdriver I was using was a little too small and it
stripped. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/11/2005 |
2.5h
|
Lots of work, riveted the skins. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/18/2005 |
2h
|
Another productive day. I mixed up the Pro Seal and put the wedge into the
trailing edge of the rudder. I added the aluminum angle pieces to hold it
straight as it sets. It made a small mess, and I don't have any MEK to clean
it up. Hopefully I won't have ruined the clecos when I take them out in a
few days. I also set the rest of the rivets on the top and bottom. of the
rudder. No fiberglass yet. Last thing to do is to rivet the trailing edge,
then I'm on to the elevators. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/20/2005 |
1.5h
|
Finished off the trailing edge. Not exactly the most graceful, and probably
not the cleanest around, but it's straight. I used WAY too much Pro-Seal. I
also set the top of the three leading edge areas. I need a better pipe. I
was trying to use a broomstick, and it made a little bit of a mess. I'm
basically done with the rudder minus the fiberglass and leading edge! |
|
|
|
|
|
6/21/2005 |
0.5h
|
Back to back days of work. Not bad, though not too much today, just rolled
the lower leading edge of the rudder and put in clecos. I also duct taped
the middle piece to help it take shape for the curve. |
|
|
|
 |
|
6/22/2005 |
0.5h
|
Finished off the leading edge. Not the best job on the middle section, but
it looks okay. Off for vacation in a few days which will leave the project
without action for a couple weeks. |
|
|
|
|
|
5/2/2005 |
0.5h
|
Half hour of deburring. Just not into it right now. Looking forward to the
builder motivation after the breakfast this weekend. I'm kind of at the
point where I think I could finish the rudder with just about a day's effort
and could probably get through the elevators with another couple weekends at
the most. Then what would I do? |
|
|
|
|
|
5/3/2005 |
0.5h
|
More deburring both the holes on the inside of the skins, and all of the
remaining edges on the piece parts. |
|
|
|
|
|
5/7/2005 |
|
No time on the project, but Katy and I did go out to the EAA105 Breakfast at
Twin Oaks Airport. While there, I went up with Brian in his RV-6A, N38155.
Nice ride, man it seems fast versus the 172. Brian let me fly the straight
and level, a couple 360s, and we did a touch and go over at Aurora before
heading back to Twin Oaks. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/9/2005 |
0.5h
|
Deburring. |
|
|
|
|
|
5/10/2005 |
0.5h
|
Deburring. |
|
|
|
|
|
5/11/2005 |
0.5h
|
A little deburring, but primarily messing with the blue stuff on the skins.
I also met with Ed Haylee (sp?) who is building a RV-10 fairly close by in
the neighborhood. Nice to know others are building around here. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/12/2005 |
|
EAA105 Chapter Meeting out past Banks at Doug S.'s shop. He's countersinking
on the skins. Wicked. Won't be trying that myself, but it sure looks nice. I
also realized for the first time how much you have to rough up the skins to
paint. This makes me think that messing with the lines for the blue stuff is
not really worth it. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/14/2005 |
6h
|
EAA Tech councilor visit today. Dan Benua stopped by at 9:00am and we spoke
for about two hours. Found a few items that need some repeat attention. Four
rivets on the Front spar attach for the Horizontal Stabilizer, and one rivet
on the top left skin of the Horizontal Stabilizer that looks like it was
under dimpled. Wish I had started on the bottom like you are supposed to. =)
With this conversation, I crossed the 100 hours logged against the
project. This is not counting the countless hours I have not logged on my
computer doing "research" and the equally countless hours I have
not logged dreaming.
Throughout the rest of the day with a few stops for food, a short road
trip, and some yard work, I finished deburring everything, including the
edges as demonstrated by Dan. (Yea!) Katy helped me out again, and we worked
our way through dimpling both skins. She then went in and I continued until
I finished all of the remaining rudder pieces. I also countersunk the holes
toward the trailing edge of the two ribs that are impossible to reach to
dimple. With everything done, I'm ready tomorrow to Scotchbrite the parts,
clean them up and prime them. I hope to be able to at least get the stiffeners
riveted in place. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/15/2005 |
3h
|
Cleaned the rudder parts with soap and water. Started raining, so there is
not much chance I'm going to get them primed today. Maybe there will be a
break before my folks get here on Wednesday. I hope to be able to put
together part of the rudder with my dad while he is here.
Weather change! Clearing skies and no rain let me get some priming in.
Man these parts looks ugly. My priming skills are just plain bad. I'm
certainly not going to paint the whole thing myself. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/18/2005 |
1h
|
My folks arrived in town today. Took the opportunity to show my dad the shop
in the garage and the current progress on the plane. I had saved the easy
back riveting of the stiffeners to the rudder skins so that I could actually
show him something going together. Set a few rivets and even had him do one,
though he was quite concerned about messing it up. Not much chance of that
with the back riveting though. We headed off to dinner after a couple of the
stiffeners, then after dinner I put the rest of them on both skins. Not bad
at all, and the really make a big difference. |
|
|
|
 |
|
5/30/2005 |
1h
|
Really in a bit of an airplane funk, plus finals, plus review time at work.
Add in a hard disk crash on my home PC last week and the RV project has
taken a back seat. Work is probably going to be slow throughout the summer
as I have a really packed schedule. I spent about an hour today working on
the counter-balance and touching up some primer on the main spar. I also
drilled and dimpled the #10 holes along the top of the skins. |
|
|
|
|
