Monthly Archives: August 2010

Day 6: Fixing My Mistake (45m)

August 21, 2010
Day 6: Fixing My Mistake (45m)

I fixed the tip rib and drilled and cleco'd the leading edge skin to the spar.

Read more »

Day 5: My First Mistake

August 15, 2010
Tip Rib Problem

After riveting the skeleton in place I pulled out the skin and aligned it with the edge of the spar and with the pre-drilled holes against the ribs. Everything looked good until I got to the tip rib: there was a significant gap between it and the holes. I spent quite a bit of...

Read more »

Day 5: Riveting the Rudder Skeleton (1h)

August 15, 2010
Me and a Rivet Gun

With the parts primed I first clecoed the doublers and bottom rib to the spar and riveted them in place. I’d never riveted before so this was a nervy experience but turned out to be real easy and straightforward. After this I attached the remaining ribs and worked my way up the spar until...

Read more »

Day 4: Priming (30m)

August 14, 2010
Priming Parts

Before riveting it is recommended that you prime the metal wherever two parts will touch. The thinking is that there is a small danger of corrosion at the joins where substances could possibly get between the two surfaces. I toyed with the idea of painting everything but that was a lot of work so...

Read more »

Update of Sorts

August 10, 2010

Two weeks in England and now one week at work mean there has been no physical progress on the plane but I did buy some work supplies and, more importantly, I bought the drawings and manuals making me an official builder. Oh, and the maximum weight of the plane has increased.

Read more »