Apr 07, 2024     Moving right along - (50 hours)       Category: Wings

Lots has been going on. Aileron cables are in, flaps springs installed with the gasket. Pitot tube mast is installed, pitot and AOA plumbing are done. Inspection cover back plates are installed with all the nut plates for the covers to attach. Gas tank cover has all the holes upsized for #6 screws. Curtis drain hole has been cut. Trailing edges of the flaps and ailerons are all lined up and riveted

  Feb 21, 2024     Wingtip trailing edge closeout - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

Photo failure as I forgot to take a photo of the wood, but I used wood to create a wingtip trailing edge closeout and did not take a photo of the wood. The wood was shaped to the extended rib and out to the trailing edge of the aileron. I used Hysol epoxy to put it in place then clamped it as you can see in the photo

The trailing edge of the wingtip will be the inside edge of the green tape. The wood is in the space between the two green tapes.

  Feb 20, 2024     Wingtip pin hole filling and sanding - (6 hours) Category: Wings

After applying too much filler, I sanded for well over 5 hours. I still need to prime as this really allows you to see the remaining pin holes and they will be filled with 3M bondo.

  Feb 08, 2024     Wing Tip Light Base - (2 hours)       Category: Lighting

I used carbon fiber to create a base for the light

  Feb 08, 2024     Right wing tip fitted - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

Right wing tip is drilled and cleco'd as well as the wing tip light base mount is glued in place with some kind of fancy Kitfox epoxy

  Feb 06, 2024     Fuel Tank fittings - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

Three of the four (one is backordered) were installed and lines were drawn to drill holes in ribs for fuel lines

  Feb 06, 2024     Main Skin Riveted - (4.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Today the main wing skin on the right wing was riveted except for the last (trailing edge) row as the stiffener need to go in there and it will likely be painted first.

At some point between the age of 5 and 61 peeling plastic off of metal ceased to be fun

  Feb 04, 2024     Right Wing Photo Dump - (100 hours)       Category: Wings

I have been super busying doing the right wing and not posting, so here is a big dump. Lots of time was spent figuring things out and going down rabbit holes, the left wing will be a lot quicker and I will do a detailed daily step by step. Lots of time spent on the leading edge light and the conduit for the wiring.

Several BH builders expressed concern about the leading edge light as far as compromising the integrity of the D-spar. I used a backing plate (with the anchor nuts, .020 lens, and a .025 lens cap, so there are 4 layers including the wing skin. This bay, 2nd to last, is significantly stiffer than any other bay in the entire wing.

Wingtip attach/drilling locations have been marked, but can't do that until after the skin is riveted.

  Nov 03, 2023     PAINT! - (5.5 hours)       Category: Boot Cowl

Well, today was a visual day.

It was a serious milestone! I filled and sanded the nosebowl about 30 times, all be it at the end with 400 and 600 grit sandpaper. How long does a cycle of filling and sanding take? About 4 hours each time. It was like chasing a GHOST! But today it was all worth it

Tomorrow the engine cowl gets riveted to the nose bowl and will all be painted.

Happy Days

  Nov 02, 2023     Paint Prep - (6.5 hours) Category: Boot Cowl

Not much visual to show, just sanding and priming getting ready to paint