Apr 27, 2024     Week 42 - (25 hours)       Category: Wings

Early in the week the left and right rear spar assemblies were completed as outlined on page 14-03. Rear spar doubler plates and hinge assemblies were riveted to the rear spars along with tip attach angles. Later in the week we were finally able to make room to bring in the main spars and start assembling the wings. The Cessna project was sent off to have avionics installed and the chapter hangar was rearranged to free up the large table on wheels for wing assembly. This table was earlier used for building components of the chapter's Zenith 750 Cruiser Veteran's Build project. That aircraft is pretty well along and no longer needs the table. Once everything was arranged, we brought in the spars and began work on section 13. Some of this section had been done earlier including steps 1 and 2 on page 13-02 separating and prepping attach angles and doublers. In steps 3 and 4, the left rib doubler had already been riveted to a rib, but otherwise those steps were completed match drilling the doubler to the first inboard attach angle. More attach angles were riveted to the spar as described on page 13-03 steps 1 through 4. Existing attach angles already mounted on the spar also had rivets added to the web of the spar in step 5. Meanwhile, it was discovered that small ribs for the flaperons had not yet been prepped and primed so work was also begun on that.

  Apr 13, 2024     Week 41 - (20 hours)       Category: Wings

This week the focus was on steps 1 through 4 on page 14-2 dealing with the stub spar assemblies. Step 2 requires a 120 degree countersink which we didn't have at first. We ordered a set of bits and got them in time for Saturday's session. Both assemblies were then properly countersunk as described in step 2. Holes at the inboard end of the stub spars were 100 degree countersunk in step 3 and then the two stub spar assemblies were riveted together in step 4.

  Mar 30, 2024     Week 40 - (15 hours)       Category: Wings

Work continued this week with step 7 on page 14-2 creating the flaperon hinge brackets. Steps 8, 9, and 10 were then done completing the assemblies. The stub spars were then brought out and a close examination of the directions and parts for pages 14-02 and 14-03 was done. Nothing was permanently done or riveted at this point pending further review of the directions.

  Mar 09, 2024     Week.39 - (30 hours)       Category: Wings

There haven't been any entries lately for several reasons. For one thing a lot of attention has been diverted to the condition inspection and refurbishment of a Rans S-12XL which was donated to the chapter. That work is now nearly finished and the Rans will soon be sold. Our next kit to complete is the wings, but with the Rans in the way we don't have the room to lay out wings for assembly. Then there's Van's bankruptcy and all the issues that go with that. But when time and space allows, chapter members have been doing what we could in terms of continued prep work on the wings. Almost all wing components have now been primed with Cortec. The nose ribs were prepped and modified according to the directions on page 15-02 steps 1 through 7. Hinge ribs were cut apart in step 8. Nutplates were installed on two ribs and doubler plates were added in step 9. More nutplates were added to another rib in step 10, completing the page. The main ribs are the focus of page 15-03. The ribs were first straightened and trimmed according to the directions on steps 1 through 3. Rib doublers were added to two ribs in steps 4 and 5. When we got to step 6, we realized we had to go back to 14-2 to assemble hinge brackets as outlined steps 5 and 6 on that page. More such prep work will continue until we get the space to actually start assembling ribs onto spars.

  Jan 06, 2024     Week 38 - (15 hours)       Category: Wings

Prep work continued this week. All of the ribs have been done and so now work has moved to some of the longer spar-related parts. Meanwhile, some Pro-seal became available, so a couple of tasks that were earlier postponed were completed. A bead of Pro-seal was applied to the lower outboard edges of the canopy rib assemblies (Step 8 on 29is/U-08.) All of the rivet heads on the firewall parts were also sealed with Pro-seal as directed in step 5 of 29iS/U-09.

  Dec 23, 2023     Week 37 - (10 hours)       Category: Wings

More prep work. Scuff with scotch-brite, clean with acetone, paint with Cortec. A lot of work for an optional step. But in the long run we hope it will be worth it. Who knows where the airplane may end up some day? This way it will be protected and last longer even if it sits outside in a humid environment.

  Dec 16, 2023     Week 36 - (12 hours)       Category: Wings

Prep work continued this week. We don't have room to begin assembly yet due to other projects in the workshop. But the amount of prep work is such that just doing that will keep us busy for awhile.

  Dec 09, 2023     Week 35 - (8 hours)       Category: Wings

Yet more prep work for the wings this week. More ribs were scuffed and cleaned. Parts were also separated and de-burred as described in steps 1 and 2 of page 13-02.

  Dec 02, 2023     Week 34 - (15 hours)       Category: Wings

Prep work continued for the wing kit this week. Fewer members were available for this since attention has shifted to the Cessna 150 project. Still, progress was made. Since we made the decision early on to prime all interior parts, there is a great deal of scuffing, cleaning, and priming to be done before we can even begin to assemble the wings. This is going to take awhile…

  Nov 25, 2023     Week 33 - (25 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Work on the battery box continued where we left off last week. Steps 3, 4, 6, and 7 completed final assembly of the box. Step 5 was skipped for now due to a lack of sealant which is on order. The assembly took awhile because some of the rivets were a little difficult to get to. Meanwhile, looking somewhat ahead, the panel attach strips were prepped by dimpling and riveting nutplates to the panel attach strips (step 6 on 29iS/U-11.) The glareshield was prepped for installation by completing steps 1, 2, and 3 on page 29iS/U-10. Boelube was then applied to the glareshield as directed in step 1 of 29iS/U-11. The mating surface was then cleaned and a bead of Permatex silicone adhesive was carefully laid along F-01201H-1 as described in step 3. The glareshield was then installed on the airframe using screws (step 4.) The small plate that sits on top of the glareshield was then screwed into place. The plate had to be trimmed slightly to fit exactly. The panel attach strips were added next as described in step 7. Meanwhile, a small group assembled the egress handle as outlined in steps 4 through 6 on page 29iS/U-10. The handle assembly was then riveted in place in step 8 of 29iS/U-11. The upper panel plate was then attached to the strips using screws (step 9.) Except for some needed fuel sealant in places, that completed the fuselage kit. For the moment, the fuselage is being set aside in a corner of the chapter hangar. We have the wing kit and a lot of priming prep work needs to be done on that before assembly. Meanwhile, our Cessna 150M restoration project needs some attention since the fuselage has returned from the paint shop.