Hopefully you guys can help me off the ledge on this one. I have not seen a whole lot of posts regarding the flap fairings so I hope my issue isn’t unique.
I have fitted the wings and adjusted the flaps to the ailerons and match drilled the fairing to the longerons. After a considerable amount of massaging to get the trailing edge of the fairing to wrap around the belly of the fuselage I got to the point where I felt comfortable match drilling the holes in my fuselage skins. Immediately it became apparent that the flat edge of the fairing was not going to sit tight against the curved skin but figured it would be pulled in with the riveting. Long story shorter; I have gaps opening between the edge of the fairing and the fuselage and wrinkles where it was riveted. I also have very short shop heads in places. Both structurally and aesthetically I feel that I have come up short.
At this point I see my options are to replace the fairing and hope the second time is the charm or try to live with it; which will drive me nuts. I would really love moving past this phase of the build and get the floors in.
My question to you guys is one, are these issues common, and two, anyone ever replace the aluminum fairings with glass? I am thinking that if I converted them to fiberglass I could blind rivet them in place after the wings are permanently attached, creating a nicer fit and seal the fairing to the fuselage. Thanks.
QB RV8
Wings pretty much done
Fuselage with gear almost on
IO 360 waiting to be hung
Dues paid
I have fitted the wings and adjusted the flaps to the ailerons and match drilled the fairing to the longerons. After a considerable amount of massaging to get the trailing edge of the fairing to wrap around the belly of the fuselage I got to the point where I felt comfortable match drilling the holes in my fuselage skins. Immediately it became apparent that the flat edge of the fairing was not going to sit tight against the curved skin but figured it would be pulled in with the riveting. Long story shorter; I have gaps opening between the edge of the fairing and the fuselage and wrinkles where it was riveted. I also have very short shop heads in places. Both structurally and aesthetically I feel that I have come up short.
At this point I see my options are to replace the fairing and hope the second time is the charm or try to live with it; which will drive me nuts. I would really love moving past this phase of the build and get the floors in.
My question to you guys is one, are these issues common, and two, anyone ever replace the aluminum fairings with glass? I am thinking that if I converted them to fiberglass I could blind rivet them in place after the wings are permanently attached, creating a nicer fit and seal the fairing to the fuselage. Thanks.
QB RV8
Wings pretty much done
Fuselage with gear almost on
IO 360 waiting to be hung
Dues paid