Here we go again with the primer! I think we are getting pretty good at it though. Still some problems to work through with measuring cups and dispensing from the cans, but so far it is going well. We have also trimmed the time down from marathon sessions to something… Read More »Priming once again
I think I will have built this plane three times over before I’ve actually completed it the first time. I had the entire HS clecoed together, match drilled, and ready to roll, except of course that it wasn’t riveted together. So naturally you have to take it all apart, deburr… Read More »Horizontal stabilizer deburring
Unfortunately it has been a while since I have made significant progress on the plane, but sometimes life gets in the way I suppose. It has been a busy travel week for work and also a stretch of inhumanely hot and humid weather that made it tough to work out… Read More »Horizontal stabilizer match drilling
Through the help of my dad (Prime King) we were able to divide and conquer a lot of work today. He was able to help me prime all the parts that attach to the two main spars of the horizontal stabilizer (doublers, etc.) and get them ready to rivet together.… Read More »Priming and assembly
Before I left town for my family reunion out in West Virginia, my great uncle Ronnie called to let me know that a guy he knows (and he knows EVERYONE in that county so that doesn’t narrow it down) built his own airplane and he’d like to take me over… Read More »Checking out a finished RV
I am incredibly lucky that my parts came this morning already. Next day service?!? I’ll take that! Thanks Van’s! I wasn’t counting on being able to get this done before I left for a long weekend for a family reunion. But here we go! For as frustrated and deflated as… Read More »Horizontal stabilizer done right
Well, it was bound to happen, but here we are. I am re-ordering my first part from Van’s. I get it – everyone does it, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I will admit that it is a real confidence shaker. I find myself going back over other work… Read More »Horizontal stabilizer and a significant whoops
Upon completion of the rudder (what felt like four times after all of the rivet drilling and re-setting of course) it is time to move on to the horizontal stabilizer. The first order of business was to reorganize the shop into a new configuration so that my work tables would… Read More »Horizontal stabilizer start
I put in quite a bit of time today, but I’m not entirely sure that I got where I needed to be. I am extremely happy with the trailing edge, but I think I need some additional guidance on the leading edge. I rolled the edges as Van’s described and… Read More »Rudder finished… sort of
I thought the primer smelled toxic… wow. This tank sealant stuff is the real deal. It is a cross between fresh asphalt smell, glue, and rancid meat. It is truly one of the most offensive odors I’ve come across (including college roommates). What it lacks in pleasant aroma it more… Read More »Rudder and tank sealant