Tie down tricks
Steve
First welcome a d congratulations on getting so far before posting a question on VAF.
A few tricks with the spacers and tie downs.
1. Cleveland sells a kit with three braces and tie down rings. They are already tapped and the rings are red plastic coated.
2. Check the location of the tie down. Vans directions placement ends up with a space between the skin and the tie down. I placed mine so they were basically flush by using a piece of scrap to simulate the skin location.
3. This one is not mine but it's one of the best. Buy some 12" pieces of straight brass tubing from the local hobby store. You want three pieces, three sizes. The OD of the biggest should be the same size as the AN bolt holes. The middle one slides into the big one then a smaller piece slides into the middle piece. The ID of the smallest is about #40. What you end up with is a multi purpose drill bushing for drilling perfectly centered holes. Cut to the lengths you like for drilling and lube each piece with Boelube.
4. When it comes time to drill the skin for the the down, the lines directed by the plans are handy but using a homemade centering pin inserted in the tie down to center punch from the back side, will insure the hole is perfectly centered. It's tricky to do with no access to the top side but you get the idea.
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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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