Wednesday, May 28, 2008

VS Skeleton ready for deburring/priming

After measuring and measuring again and ... the skeleton is ready for deburring and priming. The main spar must be installed in the jig.

Found another error in the manual/drawings, or at least something that is very easy to misinterpret and get wrong. In the drawings, the angles for the ribs are measured from the main spar. The hinge line on the VS is NOT parallel to the main spar, so when installed in the jig, repositioning the temporary hinges from the HS (as per the manual), the 5/8 inch offset of the HS-406 tip measured with a "water bulb thing" (as per fig 6.12 in the manual), cannot be correct. It has to be MORE than 5/8 to compensate for the offset hinge line, or the 93 degree angle will only be 90-91 degree. It looks like this has caused some confusion earlier, because the manual states that the drawings have been checked and rechecked and ARE correct. So this means that the manual is wrong. At least it mentions nowhere the importance of installing the spar in the jig so it is absolutely horizontal, or to compensate for the unparallel hinge line when using the hinges with no shimming on the jig.



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Skeleton on the VS

Continuing with the skeleton on the VS. Lots of measuring and odd angles. Have to order some wires for lights. I think I will use LED instead of bulbs.



Friday, May 23, 2008

The HS is finished

The first piece of the RV-4 is finished.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

More riveting on the HS

Got my pneumatic rivet squizer from Averytools along with rivets and a rivet cutter from Aircraft Tools Supply. Used the rivet squizer on the trailing edge. From all the tools I have purchased, the pneumatic rivet squizer must be the top.

The riveting is going very well. On the next parts I have to remember not to drill holes too close to the ribs.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Started riveting the skins

After a few tries with wrong bars, the first line of rivets on the HS is formed. According to Tom at Van's it is best to try to rivet as much as possible in the jig to be sure that the HS is straight.

Dimpling the HS

Dimpled all the holes in the HS. Riveted on the extensions to the HS-406. Primed the skeleton "a bit" with epoxy on top of the wash primer.