| Site Navigation |
|---|
|
|
| Builders Networks |
| RV Builders IM Network |
| Van's Airforce (RV-10) |
| Matronics Lists |
| Micellaneous Links |
| Van's Aircraft |
| Avery Tools |
| AOPA |
| EAA |
| EAA Chapter 79 |
| Aircraft Spruce |
March 29, 2004
Went skiing yesterday, and so was too tired to get any work done on the plane. Veg time.
Finished shot of the R-1002 spar riveted into place. All the holes are filled except for the one's that also secure the counter-balance rib to the spar and the skin.
Which makes it a good time to get the counter-balance rib put in place. Cleco'd in and holding...
Here it is flipped over, with both sides done. The 3 forward holes are left open, just as they were on the top rib.
Time to start the leading edge rolling.
See that pipe? I asked the guy at Home Depot for 1.25" OD pipe. I got 1.5" OD (1.25" ID). Rolls fine, just doesn't do a tight enough job. Kind of a pain having to do it twice. I couldn't find anything long enough, until around 9:30 I remembered my dad had some scrap tubing in his shop next door. Voila! He had just what I needed (thanks dad!). I got the edges re-rolled, and they look a whole lot better.
I've got every other hole cleco'd. One of the steps Van's has you do is to put a bend on one side or the other to help holde the skins tight. They have you do this after the skin is rolled. Don't. Do it before you roll. It won't affect the rolling, and will be a heck of a lot easier. My Avery bender couldn't get the last 1/2" of the upper skin, so I duct-taped the jaws of some lineman's pliers and finished it with them. You can see I'm using #40 cleco's, so I haven't final-drilled the holes with a #30 yet, but one thing to point out is that while Section 5J talks about cleaning up the holes, the instructions themselves don't. Don't forget to deburr. Use scotchbrite to clean up the back side of the holes.
Leading edge is DONE! About the only thing left is the counter-balance, and then it's off to the HS.
A closer view of the rivet line. I do wish that Van's had specified some stronger rivets here. It just doesn't feel like I got enough squeeze on these soft old things. Hole alignment on the lower section was also tougher because the holes were so far apart, but it finally came together.
