Jun 18, 2023     Sold - (1 hour) Category: Fuselage

This project has been sold to another builder

  Apr 23, 2023     A lot of little parts - (5 hours) Category: Fuselage

Started searching the plans for small parts that will be needed later. Of course if the plans said back drill or drill with a specific part I only fabricated the part to shape and size. The list of completed parts includes:

Seat belt cable attachments
F-707B angle clip
F-635L spacer (2)
F-798 shim (2)
F-710C spacer (2)
F-712D up elevator stop
F-711E down elevator stop

  Apr 20, 2023     More parts - (4.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

I have been going through the plans finding parts that can be fabricated now even though the substructure may not be built. For example the elevator bellcrank pictured below was done today. I also worked on the elevator stops, the elevator pushtubes (priming) and fitting the aft deck. The pushtubes still need to be cut to size and riveted, that will be next.

  Apr 19, 2023     Miscellaneous items - (4.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

I stopped by Vans to pick up two parts and while I was there I asked about the tail wheel mount. I turns out I am 60th on the list for a tail wheel mount. Yes, SIXTIETH on the list of I don't know how long. Vans forecast was three months, I am betting on five. So what can I do to continue moving forward?

I decided to build as many component parts as possible so they are ready in the future. I worked on the elevator bellcrank, the elevator pushrod and pulled more blue plastic off of parts. At some point work will come to a stop waiting the tail wheel mount

  Apr 16, 2023     Question answered - (.1 hour)       Category: Fuselage

Someone on VAF asked about fitting the J-channel at the back of the aircraft. I took these photos of the aft area so he could see how they fit together. These parts have been clecoed together but not drill to size yet.

  Mar 21, 2023     Fuselage work - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Installed optional battery box on firewall. Installed J channels and ribs in the tail section for drilling. I leveled the fuselage and checked to ensure it was not twisted.

  Mar 07, 2023     Center section - (2.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Finished drilling the Center section including all the nut plate locations. I skipped the longerons so they will get done next.

  Mar 04, 2023     Center section - (4.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

With the help of my wife I was able to rivet the center section together.

  Jan 29, 2023     Tail section - (2.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Getting the tail section ready for match drilling

  Jan 27, 2023     Priming - (2.5 hours) Category: Fuselage

Continued work on the center section and the tail section in parallel. Today was spent priming parts for assembly

  Jan 25, 2023     Center section - (2.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Finished riveting the seat and baggage compartment ribs. Next is riveting the bottom skin to the ribs. When that is done it will be ready to join the tail section.

I'm still waiting for parts from Vans. I'll start in the tail section and complete as much as I can. I'm afraid this project will stop while I'm waiting for parts.

  Jan 24, 2023     More work after the holidays and travel - (8 hours)       Category: Fuselage

The center section has been assembled, drilled to size, disassembled for deburring, dimpling and priming. I'm in the process of riveting the seat and baggage compartment ribs in place

  Dec 24, 2022     Center section - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Continued work on the project

  Dec 23, 2022     Center section - (10 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Lots of work has been done. The tail wheel weldment is still on back order so I am not assembling the aft section just yet. I moved on to the center section and have been working on its assembly. The fight controls were installed, washer stack up determined and removed for storage. The seat ribs have been prepared for the flight controls and primed.

  Dec 13, 2022     Center section - (4.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Worked on center section F-704. It's ready to rivet together.

  Dec 11, 2022     Work continues - (8.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

More work on the fuselage sub assemblies in preparation for starting assembly.

  Dec 06, 2022     Fuel tank mounting bolts - (2.0 hours)       Category: Wings

Torqued the fuel tank mounting bolts and finished riveting F-705 bulkhead

  Dec 05, 2022     Pressure tested fuel tanks - (2.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Pressure tested the tanks. Sprayed them with soapy water, no leaks noted

  Dec 01, 2022     Fuselage parts - (3.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Continued with the tail section bulkheads

  Nov 30, 2022     Started fuselage - (5.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Started working on fuselage. Prepping bulkheads.

  Nov 07, 2022     Selling the A model gear - (.1 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

Gear for an A model

  Oct 13, 2022     Continued work - (6.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

With the firewall riveted I have skipped over the F-704 center section and worked on F-705 bulkhead. It's ready to come apart for deburring, priming and riveting. I also have been fabricating the spacers for the center section.

  Oct 01, 2022     F-705 bulkhead - (4.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Skipped over the center section while I decide on my plan for spacers. Started the F-705 bulkhead. It's located immediately behind the seats and the aft spar carry-through is attached to it. A lot of parts fabricated and the spar carry-through drilled and deburred.

  Sep 28, 2022     Firewall - (4.5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Riveted most of the firewall. Planned locations of the brake reservoir, the battery box, the battery and starter relays. Drilled attaching location for the brake reservoir.

  Sep 27, 2022     Firewall work - (6.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Several tasked completed. The aileron bell crank came in so that is installed. The firewall is deburred, dimpled, countersunk and ready for riveting. I made a new doubler for the fuel pump and modified it for the throttle and carb heat pass through. I drilled the holes necessary for the brake reservoir, it will be installed later.

  Sep 21, 2022     Firewall - (4.0 hours)       Category: Fuselage

I did not like the way the fuel pump doubler interfered with the location for the throttle and carb heat pass through. So I'm making a new doubler but I need the SS pass through to measure. So that's on hold.

I moved to the center section and removed it from its packaging. It's in perfect condition. The first step is drilling wiring pass through locations. I don't like the edge distance so I'm going to research this a bit before drilling.

  Sep 17, 2022     Firewall - (3 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Waiting on a few wing parts so started the fuselage. First step is the firewall. With the exception of two nut plates it's ready to debur , dimple and rivet together

  Sep 10, 2022     More wing work - (3.0 hours) Category: Wings

Riveted the trailing edge of the lower skins, attached the aileron hangers, made delrin aileron stops.

  Sep 08, 2022     Wing close out - (4. hours)       Category: Wings

Finishing out the wings. Installed flight controls in the right wing and then discovered I had two right bell cranks and no left. So the left wing will wait until I order the new bell crank. So I turned to cleaning the skins.