Show us the status of your 6/6A project! - Page 2

longranger · #11 09-02-2010, 03:18 PM

You almost had it! Minor formatting problem. You had http:// in twice. Hit the quote button on your original post, then back up and do the same for this post, and take a look at the difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by db9469

This is my first time trying to post pictures so I apologize up front if it's a disaster. My -6 wings and tail are both basically finished. I'm currently skinning the fuselage. Colin and I started our fuselages at about the same time and he's much further along than I am. I have a list of excuses that I won't share at this time.

GAHco · #12 09-02-2010, 10:39 PM

Tail Done up to Full Paint, including Fairings.
Wings Done to Full Paint, including Flaps and Ailerons, Tips primed.
Fuselage fitting last skin F670R, then will prime and rivet canoe.
MT 3 blade Aerobatic Prop and Governor on order.
Will try to update my build site soon.

http://www.gen-aircraft-hardware.com...Plane_proj.asp

WingsOnWheels · #13 09-11-2010, 11:49 PM

It looks like everyone is making great progress on their projects!

I was out of town the last couple of weeks, but before I left I was able to rivet both the tailcone side skins in place.

I spent today finishing up fitting the rudder pedal weldment and drilling my various holes for future adjustment. I then prepped the right cabin side skin and plan to start riveting tomorrow. However, I was thinking about fitting the baggage floor and seat-pans before riviting the side skins on. I'm not sure if that would make it any easier though.

By the way, if you are using the Kitlog website for your project you can direct-link pictures from your log onto the forum. Just open your builder site, right-click on the picture and select "properties". Copy the URL listed under "Address" and paste it into the dialog box here on the forum that pops-up when you hit the "insert image" button.

Rob Erdos · #14 10-31-2010, 02:51 PM

Hi. I've been looking forward to building an RV since I first saw Van show up at Oshkosh with the prototype RV-4 while I was still in high school. That was a few decades ago. Well, it's now or never. This summer I found an RV-6 project from an AME (that's Canadian for "A&P) in British Columbia. The price was right and the workmanship was spectacular. It consists of an essentially completed airframe that I can customize. Status report:

First "minor" step was to truck it home from BC. That's about 3000 km via UHaul:

5 days on the road and it survived the trip without a scratch. I was numb in places, but I'll survive.

Next step: Claim the garage henceforth from such frivolous uses as parking cars:

Step 3: Unpack airplane...

That's as far as I have progressed to date. The purchase was on short notice, so I'm sort of building the workshop around the project. Let's hear it for doing things backwards. My mechanical skills are starting at absolute zero, so I have some homework to do. How "zero"? My friend Eric showed up to help unload the airplane, and he asked me how much clearance there was for an RV-6 in the garage when I measured it. Measure it? By dumb luck, the fuselage fit - diagonally - with 6 inches to spare. (I'm thinking, not too seriously, of punching a hole in the garage wall and backing the tailwheel into the downstairs bathroom...)

Yes, it's a single car garage, and space will be very tight. Others have done it, so I figure I can too. The garage will be limited to hanging an engine and wiring/plumbing, because of course there is no space to assemble wings or empennage. I would be very interested to hear the stories of others who have worked in a small shop.

Thanks for reading,

Rob

P.S. First post with pics. Apologies if it blows up.

rvator51 · #15 12-19-2010, 04:40 PM

The first time that N56KT has rolled out of the hanger on her own three tires. Installing hartzell hub with blades cut off to use while fitting the cowling to get the spacing right.

WingsOnWheels · #16 12-19-2010, 07:51 PM

The project is looking great!! I can't wait to get to the rolling stage myself.

Rick6a · #17 12-20-2010, 04:17 PM

Hey, that's MY airplane! Just kidding.Your "rollout" brings back some memories. Leaving the fuel tanks and upper skin off made it much easier to wire stuff behind the instrument panel and do everything else I could possibly do before permanently attaching that upper skin. When I got to the point I wanted to fire the engine up, I just 100% cleco'ed that upper skin into place. Not one cleco popped out during the series of engine runs. Also having that upper skin on and off at will made cowl work much easier, which to me was the most challenging task on the whole airplane. You do something on one side of the cowl and something else happens on the other side of it. I don't know about you but I find working entirely alone does tend to complicate things sometimes.

Looks like you Akzo'ed it too....the best.

Very tough stuff. I use MEK to clean it when I have to, it ain't goin nowhere. My 2000 vintage -6A has the battery installed per plans on the cockpit floor between the rudder pedals. The Odyssey was not yet available. It would be nice to have the extra foot room your firewall mounted battery makes possible.

Looking good. 75% done 25% to go.

rvator51 · #18 12-22-2010, 07:27 PM

Thanks Rick and Colin.
I sure hope I dont have 25% to go as its been 11 years and not finished yet! Buying a flying RV-4 and then marrying a woman with another RV sure put a stop to my building plans! It has a Vertical Power box and a Pro-hub installed so wiring is really simplified. Canopy is done except for rear skin cover. Once the cowling is done, its mostly assembly of the parts to get everything ready to go or I may be fooling myself!

WingsOnWheels · #19 12-22-2010, 08:33 PM

I recently rolled my RV out of the shop also. However, my event was certainly not the same milestone - just fitting the gear.

Since then I have skipped ahead a bit. Rather than close up the bottom and roll the fuselage I started working on the interior. I have all the floor panels fitted and drilled, nutplates installed and the flap actuator, housing, and weldment fitted. When I roll the fuselage my interior panels will be quite close to completion. I did this because I would rather work over my head sittin on my roller-chair than leaning over the side of the plane tearing up my lower back.

WingsOnWheels · #20 02-18-2011, 10:38 PM

A major milestone today!

My fuselage finally went from this:

To This:

I built a new stand for the fuselage to replace the assembly fixture. The beams on the stand are much more narrow so it doesn't get in the way at all. There are supports at the firewall, the spar carrythrough and F-608. I still need to fit the padding for the sides of the fuselage at F-608, but I'm just glad to have this thing right side up.