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  #1  
Old 01-14-2014, 09:49 AM
datsclark datsclark is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 80
Talking Back at it

After a nearly two hear hiatus from building, I got back into the shop a few months ago. I had been working and living about 40 mins away from the project, so it fell by the waysides. I quit my job so I could work full time on the plane!

Actually, I quit so I could first spent 5 months riding my motorcycle around the country and Canada! This picture from a campground from Sampson State park in New York seems fitting seems fitting:


And now that I'm back I've been able to build almost full time. I spent quite a while getting back into things--read: making mistakes, finding lost parts, etc. I'm back in the groove now and kicking butt.

What I've got done:
  • Sealed both tanks. Maybe because I left the project in the middle of the tanks, and picked things up there, I've had nothing but little issues with them. I bought new proseal and did the baffles, only to find leaks. After drilling one and loctiting the other, I still had leaks in the BNC. I replaced those with the sealed kind. I ended up using fuellube on the cork gaskets so I can get back in there at some point. I may proseal them way down the line.
  • Wings. Installed the leading edges. Finished my landing light mounts. Dimpled and installed top skins. Almost done!
  • Ailerons and Flaps. Completed both the flaps and ailerons! The flaps really were as easy as Vans says. The ailerons I may have messed up when I folded the trailing edge. One is perfect. One is twisted about 1/8 to 3/16s. Waiting to hear from Vans if that will be ok.

Blurry cellphone pictures of progress:

First I finished sealing the tanks.


But only after find a few leaks in the baffle area. Dang it! I opened one up, And the other was fixed easily with loctite.


I finished the leading edges and installed them.


I worked on the ailerons while waiting for my friends and dad to help rivet the top skins


Riveted the top skins. I found the offset back rivet tool worked fine. I'd say we messed up on about 1/100 or so rivets, which meant drilling out only a handful. We got better as we went along.


And lastly I finished the flaps:


All done:




Now I'd better find an EAA tech counselor to inspect my work. Anyone in the Bay Area?
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  #2  
Old 01-14-2014, 10:10 AM
wirejock's Avatar
wirejock wirejock is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
Default Nice

Nice work and sweet ride. I always wanted to ride Route 66.
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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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  #3  
Old 01-14-2014, 08:11 PM
drone_pilot drone_pilot is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Hobbs, NM
Posts: 239
Default

I just picked back up on mine in April after a four year hiatus myself!! I've been kicking butt! It's going to the hangar this weekend!! The nice thing about taking the break is that the high tech avionics available now are even more impressive. I'm going full Skyview with my 7A.

Keep up the good work! Your pictures look great!
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RV-7A Tip Up Airworthy on 12/20/2016
RV-10 Emp 95% complete - sold
RV-14A Empennage Done waiting on front fuse kit to show up.
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  #4  
Old 01-14-2014, 09:08 PM
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wjb wjb is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 1,035
Default Congrats!

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for the great post ... happy to find a NorCal/Peninsula local builder. Lemme know if you need an extra hand with anything.

-Bill
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2357 hrs over 8.5 years to get to flying. Log at: http://rv7.wbencze.com
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  #5  
Old 01-15-2014, 03:06 PM
datsclark datsclark is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 80
Default

Thanks guys. I'm really enjoying it.

And Larry -- I didn't get to route 66, but I'd love to someday. I did get through Rocky Mountain National Park and out Estes Park, which was one of my favorite areas on the trip!
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