Remy and I riveted the J channels to the top skin.
Riveted the outboard aileron bracket to the outboard rib and rear spar. My new 7″ long rivet set came in handy here.
Left wing top skins done!
Clamped the right wing sub-structure to the benches. Clecoed the skins and wing walk doublers in place.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 1.5 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 83.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 294.0 |
Scuffed the top skins, wing walk doublers, and stiffeners and wiped everything down with acetone.
Mixed up a batch of P60G2 and shot everything with primer.
Clecoed the left skins and doublers to the left wing substructure.
Remy helped my rivet the skins to the ribs and spars. Prefers bucking and I prefer shooting so it all works out.
Finished riveting the spars and ribs and clecoed the J stiffeners in place. I’m really pleased with the result so far. The riveting went really smoothly. No dents!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 5.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 80.5 |
| Total Time (hours): | 291.5 |
Lot’s of holes!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 1.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 74.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 285.0 |
Removed material from the corners where they overlap and butt up against the tank skin so that they’ll lay flat. I used 60 grit sand paper. Then deburred all the edges of the skins and wing walk doublers. I deburred all the holes I drilled in the doublers too.
Dimpled the skins with the DRDT-2.
Made it through both left wing skins before my arm got tired.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 2.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 73.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 284.0 |
I clecoed the wing walk doubles and inboard top skins to the spars and ribs.
Match drill #40 rivet holes for nut plates along inboard edge.
Final drilled #19 the screw holes and dimpled the one furthest aft.
Final drilled #40 and countersunk all of the holes in the skin that are common to the wing walk doublers.
Disassembled everything.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 2.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 71.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 282.0 |
Riveted the rear spars to the wing ribs. I tried to use the squeezer but it was cumbersome with several different rivet sizes and with the flanges in the way. So I switched to the gun. This was much easier.
And of course, no section is complete without a few mistakes. I used the wrong size rivets in ribs behind the doublers. I used 4-4’s and needed 4-5’s the shop heads were too thin to be acceptable. So I drilled them all out. Nine rivets in total. I couldn’t punch the rivets out because there was nothing to back them up when I hit them with the punch. So I had to drill them all the way out. I was super careful but the holes are enlarged ever so slightly. If this wasn’t a critical structure, I’d probably just re-rivet it but this area carries the load from the ailerons and flaps. So I’ll go with a larger river to ensure structural soundness. I order some -5 rivets, a #21 drill, and a 5/32″ rivet set from Spruce.
I also put in an order with Van’s for some fuel tank sealant.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 2.0 |
| Wing Time (hours): | 69.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 280.0 |
My replacement cover plate arrived from Van’s. I deburred it, broke the edges, and dimpled the correct side this time! I’ll prime the inside next time I shoot primer.
We riveted the top skin in place. We moved the fuselage to the floor and Remy crawled inside and bucked while I shot.
Still looks more comfortable than a Delta coach seat.
And that completes the aft fuselage!
All that’s left is fitting and drilling the horizontal stabilizer and elevators and a bit of fiberglass work on the tips. Then the entire empennage kit will be complete!
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 186.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 186.0 |
Clecoed and bolted the vertical stabilizer to the aft fuselage and match drilled the upper attachment holes.
Rolled the aft fuselage on its side to rivet the top side skins.
Finished riveting both top side skins to the aft fuselage.
Clecoed the top skin in place.
Tomorrow I’ll rivet the top skin and that will complete the aft fuselage.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 183.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 183.0 |
Scuffed and prepped the new parts. Then sprayed them with primer.
Riveted the doubler and ribs to the forward spar.
Clecoed the skin to the forward spar and ribs and started riveting.
Finished riveting the skin to the forward spar and ribs.
Clecoed and riveted the rear spar to the skin and ribs.
VS Complete! Very pleased with how well it turned out. Once I replaced the parts I messed up, everything went smoothly. I’m much happier with my workmanship than the first attempt. A little experience makes a world of difference.
Rearranged the work benches and started picking parts for the horizontal stabilizer.
| Today’s Time (hours): | 3.0 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 46.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 46.0 |
I finished back riveting the stiffeners to the skins. I had one oops where a rivet got cockeyed just before I drove it. It left a ding in the skin but didn’t penetrate. I debated replacing the skin but opted to move on.
I used 3M F9460PC double stick VHB tape to secure the trailing edge extrusion to the skin and clecoed it together. I put some long rivets through every tenth hole or so, put the tape on both sides of the wedge, and used the rivets to properly register the taped wedge to the right skin. Then I clecoed it in place and removed the rivets.
I riveted the stiffeners and shear clips together. I removed the backing from the other side of the tape while I pried the skins slightly apart so the strip didn’t tear. I removed clecos as I worked my way to the top of the trailing edge. I pressed the left skin into the tape and clecoed every hole.
I mounted the counterbalance. I had to file a bit off of the forward corners to clear the shop heads of the rivets holding the counterbalance rib in place. I riveted the skin to the spar, and riveted everything else except the trailing edge. That will be tomorrow’s adventure.
I neglected to shoot progress photos along the way but here’s the result of today’s work…
This is the tape I used…
| Today’s Time (hours): | 6.0 |
| Empennage Time (hours): | 36.0 |
| Total Time (hours): | 36.0 |
Ron's RV-14A Build Log 