Jul 16, 2023     Finished the Left Wing Skin! - (3.9 hours)       Category: Wings

Finally got the motivation and help to finish the left wing lower skins. This included riveting in the pitot mast. I only have to put the nutplates on for the 3 access covers. Then fulling engaging the fuselage! Glad to get this done before my expert riveting buddy leaves for Iowa State!

  Jul 08, 2023     Inboard Left wing skin - (2.0 hours) Category: Wings

Was gone last week on business again. This week Chris and I knocked out the inboard lower wing skin. Just need to suck it up and finish the outer wing skin then the wings are done for the time being (I will put off the wing tip work until it is cold outside).

  Jun 21, 2023     Left wing underway - (3 hours) Category: Wings

I finished the access panel covers on the right wing and put it back in the wing rack. On the left wing I fit the pitot tube and lines and then fabricated the stabilizing brackets for all the lines. I need to make a bracket for the pitot regulator, then I will pull the rest of the wires for lights, then start on the lower skin. Hopefully by this weekend. Business trip next week will halt progress until the 4th of July.

  Jun 01, 2023     Right Wing Complete - (5.75 hours) Category: Wings

Completed riveting the bottom skin on the right wing. It is now done for the time being. Only lights and fiberglass tips are left. Moving on to the left wing. I have to finish bending the pitot lines and mounting the heater regulator.

Chris got his pilot's license the Saturday before his last week of high school! Then he graduated and had his party last week. So I am glad to also get the wing done about the same time.

  May 07, 2023     Completed Roll Servo wiring - (2.0 hours)       Category: Wings

I finished the wiring and connectors for the roll servo. I used 2 Mil-Std circular connects due to the larger power supply wires compared to the command wires. I also torqued all the bolts, and checked for proper length on the servo connecting rod. I made a small bracket to tie down the connectors.

  Apr 29, 2023     Right Wing Wiring Added - (2.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Added the wiring in the right wing for the landing lights, wing tips, and roll servo. My friend Matt has tons of wiring in all sizes and colors and let me take what I needed! They are slight overkill, but he also gave me a bunch of Mil circular connectors for the 22 gauge wiring. You can see I did my first connect for hte roll servo command wires. I will do the power wires in molex connector. Time to work on the bottom skins and close it up!

  Apr 09, 2023     Right Aileron Mounted - (4 hours) Category: Wings

Got a quality afternoon in with Chris. We fabricated the spacers for the aileron mounts and the mechanical brackets in each wing. Bell crank and pushrod mounts installed and we set the right pushrod length. Left aileron will go quickly once I get back from a couple trips.

  Mar 18, 2023     Finally back at left wing - (10 hours)       Category: Wings

After much activity with the kids (High School senior - choir, show choir, speech) and my junior at Iowa State, I can get back on the build. Completed the top wing skin riveting and I mounted the pitot mast and cut the skin opening. Hope to do the aft spar tomorrow.

  Feb 05, 2023     Right wing done - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

Built the wing cradle to store the wings when complete. I also moved the right wing out so I can start riveting the left wing. Finally! Had some medical issues to deal with over the last week, so falling further behind on the goals. Also have a business trip this week, so hope for progress next weekend.

  Jan 25, 2023     Rear Spare complete - (8.5 hours)       Category: Wings

More business trips and school activities in the past and getting back on the plane. I finished the flap and aileron brackets on the rear spar, so that is complete. I just have to attach the fairings and I get get back on the left wing. I included a couple pictures from my EAA fiberglass class in Oshkosh. It was a good couple days of taking away the unknowns of working fiberglass. Good class if you were like me and new to it!

  Jan 10, 2023     Right Wing Update - (7 hours)       Category: Wings

Attached the leading edge (riveting the ribs to the spar was a pain) and attached the fuel tank. Chris and I did a few long riveting sessions and completed the top skins. Ready to take the wing down and finish the rear spar and do the internals.

This was a great time working with my son! Gotta get all that time in before college in the fall.

  Dec 21, 2022     L.E. Completion and wing skins - (6 hours)       Category: Wings

Completed both leading edges and have all 10 wing skins dimpled and ready for priming. Will prime the skins after Christmas and hope to get the wings skins put on starting before New Year's day.

  Dec 12, 2022     More Progress - (17.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Worked over the last week or two to get everything ready for final assembly on the wing leading edges. I needed to cut out the holes for the leading edge lights (see picture). Took the cutting slow to not ruin my parts. I think they turned out looking good. Finished all the dimpling on the leading edges and tank transition. Everything is primed and I started finally replacing clecos with rivets!

Also note all the counter-sinking on the main spare. what you see in the pic is X2 for the top of the spare!

Working on finalizing the leading edge and will permanently affix to the spar.

  Nov 26, 2022     Closed the Tanks - (2.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Finished both tanks by adding the fuel sender and access covers. Will wait a few days for curing and will pressure test these. Moving on to the leading edges (cutting holes for the lights) and prepping them for priming. Finally over the tank hurdle and moving to actually permanently completing the wings.

  Nov 23, 2022     What a mess but almost done - (22 hours)       Category: Wings

Over the last month working around business trips, I put the right fuel tank together and sealed it. Spent about 3 hours today doing the fuel senders and then sealed up both back baffles. Letting then sit over Thanksgiving and will then finish and seal them up. All while crossing my fingers for no leaks!

  Oct 31, 2022     Right Wing Prep - (6.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Finally done with Football officiating (well, I'd take an extra playoff game, but...) and back from business travel so back to the wings. I set the left wing aside so I can catch the right wing up and do the fuel tank while the pro-seal is still good.

I have the right wing pre-fit and have the leading edge assembled. This pic has the fuel tank on for drilling the z-brackets. Fuel tank is on the left end.

  Oct 15, 2022     Tank fab and left assembly - (24.5 hours)       Category: Wings

Football season is almost over, so I hope to start making good progress again. Because I don't have the room to do both wings at the same time, I have worked the left wing up to the fuel tank, and will then put it aside to do the same on the right wing. This way I can do all the pro seal on the tanks using just the one batch of product (limited shelf-life) and hopefully before it gets too cold outside.

So I did all the fabrication for both tanks and have the left tank finished except for the rear baffle. Switched out the wings on the jig to start on the right wing. Overall the tank and sealing wasn't too bad. Will see if I have any leaks - fingers crossed that I dont!

Shannon's dad, Sig, was there to help with with the end ribs.

  Sep 29, 2022     Going slow       Category: Wings

Football season is in full swing (I ref High School games) and that is really eating into my build energy. I have fitted the fuel tank on the left wing and am now tearing it down for sealing. Been waiting on the pro-seal order from Vans and it should arrive in a few days.

In other good news, my fuselage kit should arrive tomorrow!! I didn't make my goal of having the wings done before the arrival. Oh, well! As Shannon says, it is a marathon, not a sprint!

  Sep 01, 2022     Bring on the fuel tanks! - (9 hours)       Category: Wings

Complete initial fabrication of the left wing and leading edge. The big pieces show big progress quickly. There is a LOT of dimpling and riveting in the future, but for now, the fuel tanks are finally up!

  Aug 24, 2022     Wing jig - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

I cut the lumber and assembled my wing jig in the garage. Unfortunately it was a lot bigger than I hoped when it was in my shop, so I will only be able to do one wing at a time for now. The wing is not ready for the skins!

  Aug 20, 2022     Finished Wing Substructure - (10 hours)       Category: Wings

After the rib prep, I did the pre-fit, cut holes for the wire runs, then primed all the ribs (30 of them) and then riveted the ribs and the spars.

  Aug 07, 2022     Making progress again - (9 hours)       Category: Wings

Well, after a great few days at Oshkosh with Chris and buying some parts (I put down my finishing kit deposit), and a business trip, I was able to make some progress. I completed the prep work on all the ribs (started to get old on the last few) and finally got to put some of it together (although very temporarily).

It will be working these in the shop!

  Jul 22, 2022     Bell cranks and pushrods - (2 hours) Category: Wings

Made a quick detour and assembled the bell cranks and push rods to get the long pieces out of the garage crate.

  Jul 19, 2022     Wing Ribs Prep - (1.0 hour)       Category: Wings

Laid out and marked all the ribs. They aren't too bad but will take a bit of time to sand and flute.

  Jul 17, 2022     Rear Spar Prep Work - (4.5 hours)       Category: Wings

The rear spar prep went pretty quick. Just a few rivets on the doublers to go. Next I start the long slog of prepping the ribs for the wings (all ~56 of them!).

  Jul 10, 2022     Wing Spar Build Up - (9 hours)       Category: Wings

Change of plans. Decided to jump in and start on the wings ahead of Oshkosh. Begin by adding all the platenuts on the spars. Added the platenuts, but still have some counter sinking for the screw heads.

I took my time with these since the spars are about $1600 each.

  Jul 05, 2022     Flaps are Done! - (34 hours)       Category: Wings

Chris and I (with help from Craig) completed the flaps. Assembly and riveting were easier (but bigger) than the ailerons. Thinking of tackling the fuel tanks next before moving to the main wings.

  Jun 21, 2022     Flaps ready for priming Category: Wings

Finally got everything fabricated, fit and prepped for priming. Hope to start final assembly this weekend.

  Jun 07, 2022     Flaps Buildup - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

Gotta love it when you come home from work and your son is digging in. He grabbed the parts and the schematics and dove in starting on the flaps. I love it. Chris flew in a local RV-9A to a cookout and now is really pushing me to get the plane done so we can fly in our own!

  Jun 01, 2022     Flaps are next Category: Wings

Going to start working the flaps next before the main wings. They are similar to the ailerons. Hope to get them done is shorter time than the ailerons.

  May 30, 2022     Ailerons Complete - (24 hours)       Category: Wings

After finishing the wrong side of a couple skins and nearly starting over, the ailerons are finally finished. They were a bigger pain than expected. The nose skins put a lot of force on the spars, so the skins were very warped when finishing the trailing edges (I read this is common). Well, they finished off just fine, but took a lot of extra effort to keep straight.

My Dad was in town for his 81st BDay and helped a lot. See the one picture with my son and dad while riveting the spars. It was great to have them involved!!

  Apr 21, 2022     Better Organizing - (2 hours)       Category: Wings

I bought new smaller containers and went through all the parts bags. Good thing I did, I had a few expensive parts that were missing (including the still-backordered center sections). I think the new containers and extra shelf will work out well.

  Apr 10, 2022     FINALLY!!! They have arrived! - (6 hours)       Category: Wings

Finally, after 50 weeks of waiting (even though the kit still has 2 parts on back order) the wings have arrived!! Thanks to Dona dn Chuck for helping the inventory (with Chris and Shannon) we got the inventory all but done. Now the next set of fun begins! As of now, the fuselage is scheduled to ship in 5 months, so I better get on it!

  Mar 01, 2022     Still waiting..... Category: Wings

Ordered my wing kit in April 2021.... still waiting.....