Apr 02, 2024     Throttle quadrant - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

I had to drill a hole through the firewall for cable access. Through this hole passes the throttle/propeller/mixture/oil cooler control/alternate air/and cabin heat control cables. Once that hole was ready, I was able to mount the throttle quadrant to the instrument panel and run the cables through the hole.
Additionally, I mounted the engine mount. Soon comes the engine.

  Apr 01, 2024     Got it together - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Finished up the connections. Got the parking brake reconnected. Then I got all of the avionics and put them in the panel for a look at how the finished product will look. No engraving but I am really happy with the results. I should get the parts I need from Van's anyday now and then I will be able to run the cables through the firewall and will consequently will be able to mount the throttle/prop/mixture/etc.

  Mar 31, 2024     Putting back together - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Yeah. So much for waiting a week or so for the clear coat to cure. Started putting all of the switches and other items back on the instrument panel and re-hooking up the wiring. I think it came out really good - not engraved, but still durn good.

  Mar 30, 2024     Instrument Panel and flaps - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Removed all of the switches that I had put on the instrument panel. Once that was done, I clearcoated the panel a few coats. Now I need to let it cure for a week or so before putting anything back together.
I connected up all of the flap hardware and torqued it properly.

  Mar 28, 2024     Labels - (3 hours) Category: Instrument Panel

Now that the panel is painted, I am starting to put switches back in place and labeling those switches. After I had a few of them installed, I realized that I didn't clear coat the panel. Once all of the labels are on, I will have to mask off some of the switches and then spray the clear coat.

  Mar 26, 2024     Painting - (1 hour) Category: Instrument Panel

Took the painted panel, scuffed it up and then painted a second coat.

  Mar 25, 2024     Throttle quadrant labeling - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Took the throttle quadrant and put the labels on it. It came out pretty good. Once they were done, I put the throttle/propeller/mixture/oil cooler/alternate air cables in place and secured them. The only bad part was when I tightened the bolts holding them in place, the paint got a little wrinkled. I think I just didn't let it cure enough. I will give the instrument panel more time to cure when I label it.

  Mar 21, 2024     Painting and labeling - (2 hours) Category: Instrument Panel

Spent time putting labels on the backside of the instrument panel and backside of the throttle support. Now that all of the labels are in place, I think I will wipe them quick with mineral spirits to remove fingerprint grease. Then I will spray the backsides with enamel clear. Then I will verify that it looks good. Once that is done, I will prep the frontside of the instrument panel and paint it. I think it looks pretty good - crisp clear lettering, nice contrast black letters on a gloss white instrument panel. The only drawback is that in placing the words manually, some of them are not perfectly level. I will just have to pay strict attention to detail.

  Mar 20, 2024     Painting and labeling - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

So early today, I painted the throttle panel back and front. Letting that dry to a hard finish. Then I painted the backside of the instrument panel. This was partly to make it look good but more so I could experiment with it. After it dried, I started making labels out of clear tape with black print. These I am putting on the backside of the instrument panel. It doesn't look as good as engraving but it is about $1500 less. I think it looks pretty good.

  Mar 19, 2024     Prep for painting instrument panel - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

The main part of this operation was to remove the instrument panel from the aircraft. It took so long to get it to this condition that it seems a shame to take it apart but I have to paint and label it so....
All switches have been removed and fuse panels unscrewed. Next up - painting.

  Mar 18, 2024     Throttle panel - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Removed the controls and control cables from the throttle panel and prepped it for painting. Then primed it.

  Mar 16, 2024     Throttle quadrant - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Worked up a piece of angle to support the control cables (throttle, prop and mixture). I put a piece of wood 1/2" thick on the bottom to mount the cushion mounts to so they were more in line with the cables. The angle is then mounted to the support pieces that go from the firewall to the instrument panel. I will figure out where the cables exit the firewall later.

  Mar 15, 2024     Power Panel - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Trying to mount the power panel but I need to get a support about 6" behind the panel. This will hold the control cables for the throttle, prop, and mixture in place. Should have done this when I had more access. I have a good idea of how I am going to do It - now I just need to turn ideas into metal.

  Mar 13, 2024     Power Panel - (2 hours) Category: Instrument Panel

Today consisted of me taking apart something that was together - seems I'm always doing that. I had to take the F-746 Engine Control Bracket off so I could install the controls. I put in the throttle, propeller control, mixture control, oil-cooler control, and the alternate air control. Now, I need to make a bracket forward of the F-746 as a secondary support.

  Dec 13, 2023     iPad Mount - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Mounted the iPad mount on the instrument panel blank on the right side. Also mounted the USB charging port next to the iPad mount.
Connected more wires to the Low Oil Pressure light/Hobbs Meter relay.
Connected the power wires from the circuit breakers to the PMags.
Installed the push/pull Bowden cable for the parking brake. It works fine to engage the brake but the cable bends when pushing the brake off. I am going to try to put a spring on the brake assembly to pull the brake off - see if that will work or if it will prevent the brake from being set. If that is the case, back to square 2.

  Dec 04, 2023     The Blank - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

So today I made the blank for the GDU 460 #2. In the future if I want to, I will be able to just put in a second GDU 460 on the right side to serve as an MFD. At the moment, I don't want to spend that kind of money for a minor improvement.
On the right side of the instrument panel I put a blank where the second GDU 460 would go. On the blank, I will have an iPad mount, a USB charger for the iPad, and on the back side, a holder for the GDU 460 J4602 connector will fit (just to secure it in a convenient place and not let it just be swinging about).
I cut a piece of .064 aluminum to 11" x 8" and then drilled holes for the mounting screws. I have to figure out what kind of iPad mount I want to use.

  Jul 30, 2023     Assembly - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

After painting them and letting them cure, I put the fuse panels back on the instrument panel and mounted the panel back in the fuselage.

  Jul 27, 2023     Circuit Breakers - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Drilled the holes for the circuit breakers and mounted them.
Finished mounting switches to the instrument panel.

  Jul 26, 2023     Switches and Circuit Breakers - (5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Finished mounting switches. Drilled the holes to mount the circuit breakers.
Riveted the GDU 460 templates in place. They bent in the middle like they were riveted too close together but the measurements are ok. We'll see, I guess.
Had all of the swing-down fuse panels mounted but decided to go ahead and paint them all so disassembled them. Primed them and will paint them tomorrow.

  Jul 24, 2023     Switches - (5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Spent a lot of time measuring and drilling holes. Mounted the majority of the switches on the instrument panel.

  Jul 23, 2023     Switches - (1 hour)       Category: Instrument Panel

Installed the 6 center of the instrument panel switches - Lights (3), Autopilot Enable, Trim Enable, and Pitot Heat.
Installed the TO/GA button to the left of where the Throttle will be.

  Jul 21, 2023     F-746 / Switches - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Working on the instrument panel. Removed the radio rack so I could install two nut plates in the space just below them. These nut plates will be used to hold the F-746 Aft Engine Control Bracket in place. Two more than the plans call for - that thing isn't going anywhere.
Finished riveting the extension on the F-746 Aft Engine Control Bracket.
Finally drilled the holes for the central switch location - Lights, Autopilot Enable, Pitot Heat, and Fuel Pump, and two for the CO Detector.

  Jul 20, 2023     Miscellaneous - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

-Riveted the center rib.
-Installed the rudder link on both rudder cables.
-Fitted the spacer for the rudder trim knob
-Worked on the throttle "quadrant". Have to extend the F-746 Aft Engine Control Bracket to incorporate Oil Cooler Baffle and Alternate Air Activation.

  Jul 19, 2023     Sub-Panel - (1 hour)       Category: Instrument Panel

Finished riveting the sub-panel to the fuselage. I need to touch up the paint.

  Jul 18, 2023     Sub-panel Doublers - (6 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Assembled the GAD 27 and GAD 29 doublers to the F-7105A Center Sub-Panel.
Riveted the Fwd Fuselage Ribs, F-7107-L and -R, and F-7108A to the firewall.
Riveted the F-7105B-L to the F-7105A Center Sub-Panel.
Riveted the F-7105B-L to the fuselage side.

  Jul 17, 2023     Sub-panel Doublers - (2 hours) Category: Instrument Panel

Worked on the nut plates for the doublers for the GAD 27 and GAD 29. After those were done, I primed the panels getting them ready to rivet the doublers on. All of the ribs and panels for the forward fuselage have been primed and painted.

  Jul 16, 2023     Sub-panel Doublers - (2 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Assembled the first sub-panel with the doubler for the GEA 24. Now the remainder of it needs to be primed and painted.
Drilled the holes for the nut plates on the doublers for the GAD 27 and GAD 29.
On a side note, prepped the rudder links for painting. I think I will paint them black.

  Jul 13, 2023     Sub-panel Doublers - (1 hour)       Category: Instrument Panel

Got the doubler for the GEA 24 counter sunk for the nut plates and nut plates installed. Counter sunk the holes on the doubler for the sub panel holes (which are dimpled. The doubler and the sub-panel are ready for priming. After priming, I will rivet the doubler to the sub-panel and then paint them both gloss white.

  Feb 17, 2023     Removal - (.5 hour) Category: Instrument Panel

Removed the instrument panel for final work and painting. Although I think it might not be so final - I will need it in place as I start wiring the avionics.

  Sep 05, 2022     Support Bars - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Mounted two bars under the instrument panel. They attach at the F-746 Engine Control Bracket and go straight back to the firewall.
Had to fabricate attach points at the firewall.
Once these were completed, I went ahead and riveted the F-601K Firewall Recess into place. Hopefully, I won't regret doing this because you do lose some access.

  Aug 17, 2022     Cutting the Panel - (6 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

I fabricated fuse panels on the bottom of the instrument panel that will swing down for maintenance but when not in use will be swung up and out of the way. Have to figure out how to lock them up in place.

  Aug 16, 2022     Cutting the Panel - (7 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Fitted the instrument panel with the radio rack in place. The radio rack required that I cut a hole in the subpanel. I cut the opening and it had to be all the way down which resulted in a loss of structural rigidity. I made 90�gles that attach to the aft screwhole on the radio rack and then I riveted these into place on the sub panel. Rigidity returned.
Attached the flap switch to the old instrument panel for a test fitting. I will have to adjust where I put that switch.
Next, I determined where I wanted to have circuit breakers and laid them out on the old panel.

  Aug 13, 2022     Cutting the Panel - (5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Took the instrument panel, previously laid out, and cut the openings for the 2 GDU 460s. The opening on the co-pilot side will be wired and ready to mount a GDU 460 (if I decide to spend the extra 4 grand) but will have an iPad holder.
Put the radio rack in place on the instrument panel.
Cut the hole for the G 5 backup attitude indicator.

  Aug 12, 2022     Preparation - (6 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Kind of a catch-up. Got a shipment in with a new instrument panel and rudder skin. Downloaded plans for the RV-8 (for rudder construction notes) and for the RV-14 for miscellaneous information. Both are more detailed than the RV-7 plans. Laid out the instrument panel and got ready to make cuts.
Made a radio rack for the GRR 200 and the GNX 375. The GMC 507 will be above them but it doesn't need a spot in the radio rack.
Riveted the co-pilot's fresh air vent attachment angle in place on the fuselage side wall.

  Aug 01, 2022     Fresh Air Vent - (5 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Fabricated the F-793 angle that holds the pilot's fresh air vent in place. Put it in place, found the holes for the rivets. Prepared the angle, dimpled the fuselage and riveted it in place.
Did nut plates for the instrument panel attachment angles 7103B - L and R. Fabricated and fitted the Co-pilot's fresh air vent.

  Jul 28, 2022     Mounting the Panel - (4 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Riveted the seat supports onto the "Almost a 14" seat bar.
Started making the instrument panel support/brackets. Made them on the left side - panel is mounted securely. Did the initial fitting of the left fresh air vent. Have to figure out where I want my headset jacks.
Drilled out the 7 upper fuselage skin rivets where the forward skin attaches.