Dave’s RV-7A Building Log

Pulled out the longerons again. When the fuselage gets riveted together (no progress on that this weekend), that will be the next thing I need. I carefully measured and cut off both longerons and laid out the marks for the bends. Following the instructions I labeled front/aft, top/side on each end so I wouldn’t get confused while bending.

I made my first attempt at doing the shallow curve on the right longeron. On the first pass I wasn’t wacking it hard enough, so not much happened. On the second pass, I compared my progress more often with the aft canopy deck. That helped gauge better whether I was hitting it hard enough or not. I think it was Matthew that suggested just using the aft canopy decks as a template. The template on the plans isn’t quite the right shape (actually it is–see my 12/6/2004 entry). It definitely takes some patience working on the bends, which I was starting to run short on–mostly because my piece-of-junk vise was acting up. A good place to stop. I got the curve fairly close, but it needs a little more work. And I got the vise problem figured out.

Between a million other activities today, I didn’t have much time for the plane. I started thinking about how to bend the longerons and decided the vise mounted on my workbench wasn’t going to work. My bench is hemmed in on one side by a wall and the other side by the freezer. I moved the vise to my portable tool cart. The cart is very sturdy despite that it’s on wheels. This will give me flexibility to do the longeron work anywhere–even in the driveway.

Riveted the seat and baggage ribs to the F-705 bulkhead and then clecoed on the center bottom skin. Also placed rivets in all of the open holes–ready for taping.

(edit 4/22/2005: Before riveting together the center section, it would be much easier to install the 5th point crotch strap attach point and electric aileron trim, if you are installing those options. It’s much harder to install them later after the seat ribs are riveted together.)

Very cool progress tonight. I bolted and riveted the seat ribs to the aft part of the F-704 center section. I started bolting the ribs in place, and then wondered if the rivet holes would still line up. Sure enough, they didn’t. I had to loosen a few bolts and then put rivets in all of the holes. I torqued down the AN3 bolts to 25 in-lbs, and then started in on the riveting. I set the assembly up on end. It’s always easier to rivet pushing down than trying to clamp the assembly in place and rivet sideways.

I solo riveted everything without any problems. I could have squeezed some of the rivets, but with the 3X fun it’s easier and faster to just shoot them all.

I’ll have the center fuselage bottom skin ready for riveting by tomorrow. I guess I better pour on the extra-nice treatment, so Julie will help out this weekend. We’ve got the aft fuselage to finish up and now the center fuse.

Finished dimpling the center bottom skin with the C-frame. I think we’re ready for riveting… as soon as the aft fuselage is done.