Greetings all,
Well after lurking here for an eternity I have finally started a 7. I purchased an old kit from a friend to start with because it came with assorted tools and it was partly assembled...more on that later.
It took what seems like months to carve out a space in my garage {the family storage unit} to have a place to work. It still needs some upgrades but it has the basics for now. Im sure Ill be waiting on something someday and ill take care of the little things.
Standard disclaimer, this log represents how I do things, not how YOU should do things. YOU have to decide that for yourself. My opinion is worth exactly what you pay for it. Fire away if you have suggestions, Im always open to constructive criticism.
The skeleton ready to go together. This is when I started thinking about the "optional" lightning holes in the spar doubler. I called Vans and asked the forum and cut the holes as per the plans. newer kits have the holes already cut so that told me something.
The rear spar all riveted up. I did have to drill out a few rivets here. I learned (I hope) that its important to pay attention to the bar but, if you don't pay attention to that gun, your gonna be drilling out the rivet anyway and may be replacing parts.
The frame all riveted and crammed into the skin. I think the skin got pinched over the years as the tip rib and the nose rib really didn't want to go in there when i fit it to match drill. This time I started at the tip rib and worked my way back. Same with the nose rib. Worked much better.
Most of the rivets are in place for the frame. Now I have to rivet the perimeter. The plans say to use a squeezer but I need to make peace with that gun so I used it.
All buttoned up. No damage and no smileys! This time. Now to peal the 16+ year old blue off.
Better than I thought it might be. No signs of corrosion, just the exposed skin is little more shiny.
I worked on it for a few minutes with a MF towel and it looks much better.
On to the next thing.
Well after lurking here for an eternity I have finally started a 7. I purchased an old kit from a friend to start with because it came with assorted tools and it was partly assembled...more on that later.
It took what seems like months to carve out a space in my garage {the family storage unit} to have a place to work. It still needs some upgrades but it has the basics for now. Im sure Ill be waiting on something someday and ill take care of the little things.
Standard disclaimer, this log represents how I do things, not how YOU should do things. YOU have to decide that for yourself. My opinion is worth exactly what you pay for it. Fire away if you have suggestions, Im always open to constructive criticism.
The skeleton ready to go together. This is when I started thinking about the "optional" lightning holes in the spar doubler. I called Vans and asked the forum and cut the holes as per the plans. newer kits have the holes already cut so that told me something.
The rear spar all riveted up. I did have to drill out a few rivets here. I learned (I hope) that its important to pay attention to the bar but, if you don't pay attention to that gun, your gonna be drilling out the rivet anyway and may be replacing parts.
The frame all riveted and crammed into the skin. I think the skin got pinched over the years as the tip rib and the nose rib really didn't want to go in there when i fit it to match drill. This time I started at the tip rib and worked my way back. Same with the nose rib. Worked much better.
Most of the rivets are in place for the frame. Now I have to rivet the perimeter. The plans say to use a squeezer but I need to make peace with that gun so I used it.
All buttoned up. No damage and no smileys! This time. Now to peal the 16+ year old blue off.
Better than I thought it might be. No signs of corrosion, just the exposed skin is little more shiny.
I worked on it for a few minutes with a MF towel and it looks much better.
On to the next thing.
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