VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #11  
Old 05-15-2017, 10:57 AM
Carr Carr is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Langley BC
Posts: 97
Default Ding

Clive

That ding is going to bug you on every pre flight walk around.

I did the same thing once and my better half said re-skin it.

You already have the frame and hole pattern so shouldn't be too hard to do.

Carr
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-15-2017, 01:10 PM
morganjp morganjp is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 254
Angry

I did the same thing 4 yrs ago when repainting, only I did it better as the other elevator was laying under the elevator that fell off the rack and both elevators had to be reskinned!
__________________
John Morgan
Atlanta, GA KPDK
N613SC
RV6A -SMILIN 1
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-15-2017, 01:44 PM
JonJay's Avatar
JonJay JonJay is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Battleground
Posts: 4,348
Default

Well bummer. I am a very experienced sheet metal worker and would try to fix it, just so I can say I tried. However, 2024t3 isn't very workable. You get one or two shots at fixing a crease, bend, or sharp edge before it cracks. Access will be limited making this job even tougher. If you can fix this to a satisfactory "like new" condition (no filler), my hat is off to you. If you can do that in less time than re-skinning the entire thing, you're very good!
I have seen similar damage repaired, properly, with a patch. The overlapping seam really isn't that noticeable, but with access issues, and getting the bends right, you are probably in the same ball park time wise as re-skinning.
__________________
Smart People do Stupid things all the time. I know, I've seen me do'em.

RV6 - Builder/Flying
Bucker Jungmann
Fiat G.46 -(restoration in progress, if I have enough life left in me)
RV1 - Proud Pilot.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-15-2017, 04:17 PM
joe_rainbolt's Avatar
joe_rainbolt joe_rainbolt is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 91
Default I confess: I made the same mistake

I made exactly the same mistake as I was about to paint my elevator. I considered re-skinning, but I felt that the damage caused by me removing all those rivets was a greater risk than a fiberglass repair. I cut off the bent aluminum, fitted a foam plug, and glassed over the top. After painting, the repair is invisible except when viewed from the end. I haven't thought about it since. That is, until I saw your post.

http://roughandreadyaerospace.blogsp...-disaster.html
__________________
Joe Rainbolt
RV-7A slow build complete 4 July 2016
Visited all 48 contiguous states July 15-29 2017.

Blog: www.roughandreadyaerospace.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-15-2017, 05:14 PM
Neal Trombley Neal Trombley is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: North Fort Myers
Posts: 247
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_rainbolt View Post
I made exactly the same mistake as I was about to paint my elevator. I considered re-skinning, but I felt that the damage caused by me removing all those rivets was a greater risk than a fiberglass repair. I cut off the bent aluminum, fitted a foam plug, and glassed over the top. After painting, the repair is invisible except when viewed from the end. I haven't thought about it since. That is, until I saw your post.

http://roughandreadyaerospace.blogsp...-disaster.html
thats impressive, and great work
__________________
Neal Trombley
SW Florida
EAA 66
N517NC ( reserved)
Dues Paid
NOV 2016
July 2017
Dec 2017
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 05-15-2017, 05:45 PM
jcarne's Avatar
jcarne jcarne is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Worland, Wyoming
Posts: 1,365
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_rainbolt View Post
I made exactly the same mistake as I was about to paint my elevator. I considered re-skinning, but I felt that the damage caused by me removing all those rivets was a greater risk than a fiberglass repair. I cut off the bent aluminum, fitted a foam plug, and glassed over the top. After painting, the repair is invisible except when viewed from the end. I haven't thought about it since. That is, until I saw your post.

http://roughandreadyaerospace.blogsp...-disaster.html
I concur with Neal, fantastic thinking and great work!
__________________
Jereme Carne
PPL
RV-7A Emp. done
Wings done
Fuselage done
Finish kit almost done
Exempt but gladly paying!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 05-15-2017, 07:32 PM
whittfic's Avatar
whittfic whittfic is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 128
Default

[quote=joe_rainbolt;1173260]I made exactly the same mistake as I was about to paint my elevator. I considered re-skinning, but I felt that the damage caused by me removing all those rivets was a greater risk than a fiberglass repair. I cut off the bent aluminum, fitted a foam plug, and glassed over the top. After painting, the repair is invisible except when viewed from the end. I haven't thought about it since. That is, until I saw your post.

Well Joe, your blog pretty much describes my reactions to a 'T', and for what it's worth I attempted to straighten the damage in the same way you did, with almost exactly the same result. I have thought about re-skinning as suggested and that may well be the way I end up going, but shipping replacement parts out to this corner of the world can be very costly to say the least.

I have decided to attempt a repair not unlike what you have done but by forming a small piece of aluminium to fit under the skin and riveting/bonding in place between the skin and the end rib. Looks pretty good dry fitting so far and I am hoping that once the filling and fairing has been completed it will not be noticeable under the paint. We shall see...

Clive

Last edited by whittfic : 05-15-2017 at 07:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 05-21-2017, 08:02 PM
whittfic's Avatar
whittfic whittfic is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 128
Default Repaired!

So here it is. I decided to attempt a repair and it didn't come out too bad, acceptable if not perfect...







I cut of the damaged area and found a scrap piece of aluminium to fabricate a patch. After applying alodine I riveted and bonded the patch into position using epoxy adhesive. Filled and faired using epoxy adhesive thickened with aluminium powder and then primed and painted. Whole process took about three hours plus curing time for the glue and paint.

As I said, not perfect but I'm happy with the result.

Clive Whittfield
Auckland, New Zealand
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-21-2017, 09:10 PM
jcarne's Avatar
jcarne jcarne is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Worland, Wyoming
Posts: 1,365
Default

That looks awesome! I would never notice it unless looking in from the side. Nice work!
__________________
Jereme Carne
PPL
RV-7A Emp. done
Wings done
Fuselage done
Finish kit almost done
Exempt but gladly paying!
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 05-22-2017, 01:05 PM
Dugaru's Avatar
Dugaru Dugaru is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Richmond VA, USA
Posts: 456
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jcarne View Post
That looks awesome! I would never notice it unless looking in from the side. Nice work!
Agreed, that's really impressive.
__________________
N929JA, 2007 RV-9A
Based W96: New Kent International Aerodrome
(near Richmond, VA USA)
2020 Dues Paid
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:05 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.