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  #1  
Old 12-19-2016, 12:57 PM
CubedRoot's Avatar
CubedRoot CubedRoot is online now
 
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Location: Ooltewah, TN.
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Default About to buy my wings, any advice for things to add?

I am about 85% done with my tail kit, and I plan on finishing it up in the next month or so, especially given the holiday breaks. So, I am getting ready to order my wing kit. I am going slow build on everything, because I love building for the fun of it. Here is a list of things I am planning on adding:

1. Fuel level senders. Float type since Van's doesn't sell capacitive anymore.
2. 2 extra longerons (advice I had seen from Larry on another thread).
3. Better fuel caps, I think everyone recommends the locking style.
4. Electric Aileron trim. Would like to go with the tab style instead of spring bias.
5. Fuel pickup tubes. 1 pre-made tube and 1 flop-style tube with anti-rotation.
6. AOA and Pitot plumbing lines
7. Plastic conduit
8. Return fuel line plumbing
9. Cleaveland tools tie down mod / kit.
10. Extra sheets of aluminum, various thicknesses.
11. Fuel tank test kit.
12. Extra W-730 bell crank jig (About $4) to allow work on both ailerons at the same time.

I am planning on doing wing tip lighting, but I haven't fully settled on which LED kit I want to use. I really like Aveo's ZipTips but they are very pricey, and there are good alternatives for normal wing tips like Baja etc.

What else should I also add to this order to save money on shipping, etc? What other options would you get for the wings?
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Lynn Dixon
RV-7 Slider -
Tail kit Completed - March 2017
Wing Kit Started - June 2017
My Build Log: http://www.theskunkwerx.com

Last edited by CubedRoot : 12-21-2016 at 10:04 AM. Reason: added some more suggestions.
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  #2  
Old 12-19-2016, 02:42 PM
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Lemmingman Lemmingman is offline
 
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Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 689
Default

Some folks will add (or order from another source) the pitot tube of choice. You'll want some conduit, probably.
I put in a duckworks landing light mount, in the leading of my wings.
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Gil Brice
McKinney, TX EAA-1246
RV7 - Working on fuse, fuel, brakes etc...
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  #3  
Old 12-19-2016, 03:24 PM
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wirejock wirejock is online now
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CubedRoot View Post
I am about 85% done with my tail kit, and I plan on finishing it up in the next month or so, especially given the holiday breaks. So, I am getting ready to order my wing kit. I am going slow build on everything, because I love building for the fun of it. Here is a list of things I am planning on adding:

1. Fuel level senders. Float type since Van's doesn't sell capacitive anymore.
2. 1 or 2 extra longerons (advice I had seen from Larry on another thread).
3. Better fuel caps, I think everyone recommends the locking style.
4. Electric Aileron trim. Would like to go with the tab style instead of spring bias.
5. Fuel pickup tubes, pre-made.

I am planning on doing wing tip lighting, but I haven't fully settled on which LED kit I want to use. I really like Aveo's ZipTips but they are very pricey, and there are good alternatives for normal wing tips like Baja etc.

What else should I also add to this order to save money on shipping, etc? What other options would you get for the wings?
You pretty much have it covered from Vans.

1. You can always make them if you want. It's just a couple plates and some Delrin stand offs.
2. Cheap to buy. Pricey to ship. Get 2.
3. You can always leave them unlocked. Very nice cap and flange.
4. Is that an option now? It would require a modified aileron too. Hmmm.
5. Decide on flop or standard.
6. Corogated conduit. Pain to install but very useful later.
7. Wait till the last minute for Proseal. Vans Firemaster is fine. Buy 1 quart to start tanks then another later if needed.

Other stuff...
While you wait, build the wing jig if you plan on using them.
Buy more 3/32" Wedgelock clekos. I used 1,000 to build both wings at the same time but I use every other hole plus 100% clekos in the tanks.
Buy a pitot tube mount and plumbing. The Gretz mount is pretty nice and fits most masts. Safe Air plumbing kit is pretty sweet.
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Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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  #4  
Old 12-19-2016, 03:45 PM
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CubedRoot CubedRoot is online now
 
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Updated the original post with the suggestions so far.

I think Larry sold me on the two additional longerons :-) I can always use them for spare stock if I dont need them, or donate them to another VAF'er in need to pay it forward.

Is this the usual nice fuel cap that everyone recommends? http://vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/stor...duct=delux-cap

I have been waffling around on the fuel pickup. I would like to equip the plane for inverted flight, just in case I want to do that in the future (still a long way from the engine choice at this point though). Flop tubes are a must for this, but I have heard issues of them getting hung up on the internals of the tank. I may go ahead and order them, since they are about $46 each, in case I decide to go with them. Maybe if I go with capacitive senders there won't be anything for the tubes to hang on.

I plan on skipping the pro-seal for now. I will likely not be able to get to the fuel tanks in time to use it before its shelf life is over, so I'll just order it when I get to the tanks.

Larry, I can't seem to find Safeair anymore, are they still in business?
I am also like you when it comes to clecos... I use one for every other hole to make sure everything stays straight during assembly and drilling, then when I rivet, I cleco every hole only removing them as I stick a rivet in to set. I have been pondering if the Isham took kit I have has enough to do this for both wings at the same time...heh. May need to order a few hundred more.

I have a very nice and flat concrete floor in my basement where I will build the wings. I am seriously considering having the "modified" or "alternative" metal wing stands made up that bolts into the floor. These are the ones I am considering: http://www.rudigreyling.com/rv_tip_stands.html I have plenty of space to bolt two of them down, and give me plenty of room to work on all sides of the wings with a roller stool.

I wil be going with Dynon panel, so I have only looked at their pitot/AOA mount, but will check out the Gretz.
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RV-7 Slider -
Tail kit Completed - March 2017
Wing Kit Started - June 2017
My Build Log: http://www.theskunkwerx.com
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  #5  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:06 PM
rv9builder rv9builder is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CubedRoot View Post

I have a very nice and flat concrete floor in my basement where I will build the wings. I am seriously considering having the "modified" or "alternative" metal wing stands made up that bolts into the floor. These are the ones I am considering: http://www.rudigreyling.com/rv_tip_stands.html
For my 9A wings, I used metal stands that were very similar to the ones shown in the link. They worked very well.
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RV-12iS Fuselage
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  #6  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:22 PM
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scard scard is offline
 
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Location: Cedar Park, TX
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Any time I pay to ship a big crate, I have them pad it with some big sheets of aluminum. That stuff can cost more to ship than it is worth.
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CMW E-Lift
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Last edited by scard : 12-20-2016 at 09:04 AM.
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  #7  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:25 PM
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wirejock wirejock is online now
 
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Location: Estes Park, CO
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Default Stuff

Yes. Those are the caps and flanges.
Yes. Wait till the Proseal is needed.
Most builders who opt for the flop, put one on the left side. Install an anti-rotation bracket.
I can't find SafeAir1 either. Weird
Yes. The Rudi wing jig rocks!
The Gretz is a bit more robust but both work.
Also, Cleveland sells a tie down bracket kit. Pretty sweet. Install so the bracket is flush to the inside of the skin.
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Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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  #8  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:32 PM
YellowJacket RV9 YellowJacket RV9 is offline
 
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Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
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I'd find a way to do capacitive fuel sensors if I could do it over. Not impressed with accuracy of floats. I'm sure they're okay but I am spoiled now and want everything to be accurate to .5 gallons or so I rely on my fuel flow totalizer which is super accurate but doesn't tell me how much is in each tank.

Chris
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  #9  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:44 PM
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CubedRoot CubedRoot is online now
 
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Location: Ooltewah, TN.
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Tons of great suggestions! I updated the original post again. Scott, I like the idea of getting some extra sheets of alcad stock. Definitely will do that, maybe even some extra angle if they can do it.

Larry, I will read up on the anti-rotation bracket for the flop tube. I am leaning towards getting one since I *might* set the engine up for inverted flight at some point. Might as well have the tank be ready for it as well, just in case. Also, it does look like the "stock" electric trim option from Vans is the bias springs. I may see about tearing into my little practice kit to make an actual mini trim tab. I've seen a post from another 7 builder that made a trim tab that looked really great, not the little add-on tab, but an actual trim tab cut out of the aileron.
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Lynn Dixon
RV-7 Slider -
Tail kit Completed - March 2017
Wing Kit Started - June 2017
My Build Log: http://www.theskunkwerx.com
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  #10  
Old 12-19-2016, 04:55 PM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
Default Safe Air

The same kits and pieces are sold by Cleaveland Tools now.

http://www.cleavelandtool.com/Plumbi.../#.WFhzLXfMwdU
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