Final drilled #40 all the nut plate rivet holes.
Machine countersunk the nut plate rivet holes
Riveted the nut plates.
Lots of nut plates.
so. many. nut plates.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 2.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 14.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 225.0 |
Category: Build Log
Started the wing build
Cut the J channel to the specified lengths with the Dremel tool and a cutoff wheel.
Clamped the J channel to flange leaving it 1/16″ proud of the flange.
Drilled and clecoed the J channel.
Flipped the lower J channel to the upper flange to finish the holes where the nut plates were on the lower flange. I marked the J channel and set aside for later when the skins go on.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 2.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 12.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 223.0 |
Got Organized
Sorted all the rivets and hardware from the bags they arrived in into the parts organizers I picked up. Used the Dymo Rhino to label everything.
Added the wing and options plans to the plans binder.
Rearranged the shop and re-covered the work benches with new paper.
Unwrapped the spars and put them up on the work benches.
Ready to build!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 4.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 10.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 221.0 |
Completed Inventory
I completed the inventory with all the small parts and bags of hardware and rivets. I was missing two items: FL-1006, a bundle of 4 doublers for the flaps, and Bag 3010-1. I did however receive two bags 3011-1. So I’m guessing there was a picking error since the items extra item number was consecutive to the missing one. The FL-1006 bundle was part of a sub-kit. All the other parts were in the sub-kit except for that one. I emailed Van’s. I’m sure they’ll send those items right along.
Met up with the gang at the EAA Chapter 268 meeting out at PUJ this morning and then did some flying with Jared in his RV-14A. We flew up to GMU for lunch with Adam and Ryan, a couple of nice young guys working on their ratings at PDK. Here’s an air to air pic of them in their school’s arrow on the way back to PDK.
Thanks for the stick time, Jared!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 6.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 217.0 |
Wings Arrived Today
Uncrated and unwrapped all of the wing parts. Started inventory. Everything seems to have arrived undamaged.
It’s like Christmas morning here!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 214.0 |
Wing kit getting closer!
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted anything here. I assure you this is not due to loss of interest. Rather its due to a lack of parts. I just received a bill of lading from ABF. So shipping of my wing kit is imminent. Last time it took about a week for it to arrive. Looking forward to getting back into the shop.
I’ll definitely order the fuselage kit further ahead!
Attached vertical stabilizer tip
I final drilled all the holes to #30, dimpled them, machine countersunk the holes in the fiberglass, and blind riveted the tip to the VS. I detached the rudder from the VS and put the VS aside. Won’t be needing it again for a long time.
I marked the rudder bottom fairing and cut the hole for the tail light with the Dremel tool.
Used the sanding drum on the Dremel to finish up the hole.
I primed the outside of the doubler with SEM rattle can primer.
I mixed up some flox and used it to adhere the doubler to the rudder fairing.
I blind riveted it in place. I’ll clean it up with sand paper once it has cured.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 1.5 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 211.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 211.0 |
Attach bottom rudder fairing
Last night I put a layer of glass over the foam in the VS tip.
This morning, I trimmed and sanded the edges.
I filled with a thick mixture of glass micro bubbles and epoxy resin.
I set aside the VS tip to cure and got started attaching the bottom rudder fairing. I measured and marked the fairing and match drilled #40 and clecoed in place.
I used a nut plate, a #6 screw and a rivet as a drill jig.
I dimpled all the nut plate attach holes with the squeezer. I needed the close quarters dimple dies for the aft-most holes.
I dimpled the nut plates.
I machine countersunk the rudder horn bracket. It’s too thick to dimple.
I riveted the nut plates in place. I made the aft-most hole too close to the aft edge of the attach strip. So I cut one ear off of the nut plate.
I machine countersunk the fiberglass for #6 screws.
Everything went together just fine.
I disassembled and started work on the doubler for the tail light. I centered and taped it in place. I drilled the #30 holes and clecoed. I ordered a #43 drill and a 4 40 tap from amazon for the other two holes.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 209.5 |
| Total Time (hours): | 209.5 |
Attached top rudder tip
I was away in south Florida all last week for work. Good trip but glad to get back in the shop today.
I final-fit the top tip to the rudder with some sand paper. I match drilled #40 all of the holes.
I final drilled the holes to #30.
I machine countersunk the holes in the tip to fit the dimples in the skin.
I dimpled the holes in the skin.
I attached the tip to the rudder with the pneumatic pop rivet gun.
Et viola…
I attached the rudder to the vertical stabilizer on the workbench. I fit the VS tip with sandpaper and match drilled all the holes #40.
I used the band saw to cut some foam to back the fiberglass closeout. I test fit the assembly to the VS and used sand paper to gradually reduce the size of the foam until I got an interference fit.
I mixed up some epoxy resin with glass micro bubbles to . nice thick paste that wouldn’t run.
…and used it to glue the foam into place.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 1.5 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 206.5 |
| Total Time (hours): | 206.5 |
Sanded and attached horizontal stabilizer tips
Sanded and fit the HS tip to fit. Before I paint the airplane, these will need to be filled and finish sanded.
Final drilled #30, dimpled the skins, and machine countersunk the tip.
I picked up a pneumatic rivet puller at Harbor Freight yesterday. I used it to set the rivets and attach the tips. So much nicer the the manual puller!
This completes the work on the horizontal stabilizer and elevators. So I’ve moved them to a safe place until I’m ready to final attach them at the end of the build.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 1.5 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 205.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 205.0 |
Ron's RV-14A Build Log 