Author: "ksouthar" <Keith_Southard@...> Time: Sat Oct 26, 2002 2:40 pm PDT Link
Tech inspection yesterday. "Good Construction" declared.
Now at 197 hours. I thought I would end up under 200 hours but I will
finish around 205.
Still a few to go to finish the fiberglass tips.
Elevators are completed (including tips).
Rudder is completed except the bottom fairing needs to be riveted (to
be completed once the light is installed). All the holes are
drilled, countersank, etc., so it is just a few minutes time once the
light is installed.
VS tip is almost done. Waiting on the final layer of glass to cure.
This one is going on with screws (I'm going to mount the LOC/GS
antenna here). Once the cure is in, I just need to mount the
nutplates. Holes are already drilled.
HS tips - waiting on the final layer of glass to cure. Once that is
done, they are ready to rivet in place.
Then I'll be done!!
Keith Southard
#90524
QB Fuse and Wings being prepared for shipping!
Author: "Matthew" <mbrandes@...> Time: Sat Oct 26, 2002 4:03 pm PDT Link
Keith,
Any tips for those of us who haven't done the glass portion of our
empennage? Run into any hurdles?
Matthew
RV-9A Empennage
--- In RV-9A@y..., "ksouthar" <Keith_Southard@a...> wrote:
> Tech inspection yesterday. "Good Construction" declared.
>
> Now at 197 hours. I thought I would end up under 200 hours but I
will
> finish around 205.
>
> Still a few to go to finish the fiberglass tips.
>
> Elevators are completed (including tips).
>
> Rudder is completed except the bottom fairing needs to be riveted
(to
> be completed once the light is installed). All the holes are
> drilled, countersank, etc., so it is just a few minutes time once
the
> light is installed.
>
> VS tip is almost done. Waiting on the final layer of glass to
cure.
> This one is going on with screws (I'm going to mount the LOC/GS
> antenna here). Once the cure is in, I just need to mount the
> nutplates. Holes are already drilled.
>
> HS tips - waiting on the final layer of glass to cure. Once that
is
> done, they are ready to rivet in place.
>
> Then I'll be done!!
> Keith Southard
> #90524
> QB Fuse and Wings being prepared for shipping!
Author: "ksouthar" <Keith_Southard@...> Time: Sat Oct 26, 2002 5:52 pm PDT Link
Fiberglass Tools and techniques:
Use a Dremel tool to trim the tips. It will give you much more
control than the typical air cut-off tool. Use a fiber disk for best
results. It will cut through the tips like a hot knife through
butter.
Measure, measure, measure, then trim. Go slow and work a little at a
time.
Don't try to get the clearances too close (like between the HS tip
and the counterbalance). Leave some room for movement.
Go to the RC Model store and buy a roll of 3" adhesive backed 80 or
100 grit sandpaper. This normally goes on a "T" bar for sanding
balsa. Roll it off and put down 2 or 3 strips side by side on your
work table. Gives you a very nice straight surface to sand the edges
that you just cut. You can sand them straight and perfect.
After your holes are drilled, use 1/8" aluminum pop-rivet backing
washers. Get them at your favorite hardware store. Put a dab of glue
on them (I used some superglue) and then use a cleco to hold them in
place to cure. Be sure to dip the end of your cleco in vaseline
before you use it. It will keep the glue from sticking to your
cleco. You will now have a very solid surface for your blind rivet
to pull against that won't work the fiberglass. Put these on BEFORE
you countersink in the fiberglass tip. It will provide a perfect
guide for the countersink bit and the bit won't enlarge the hole or
wander.
When you get ready to countersink the tips, put the countersink bit
in your deburring tool and do it by hand. Go slow and check the
rivet fit often.
Good Luck!!
Keith Southard
#90524
QB Fuse and Wings being prepared for shipping!