RV-7A Garet's RV project

Aero_Octaveus · #1 09-09-2014, 07:17 PM

Hi All, Thought I would formally introduce myself here. This is my first RV (In fact first any kind of plane) and a total newbie when it comes to building real planes. I've grown up around planes as my father was an Air Traffic Controller for his entire career and he also had his private pilots license. In my late teen's though the family went different directions and I just didn't stick with planes.

I have great memories of touring the Glasair Factory in the early 90's and disassembling dad's taylorcraft for restoration. Not to mention the airshows at the Boeing Field!

I hope that I can get back to my roots and pick up where I left off so many years ago, and share that with my kids!

http://garetsrv.blogspot.ca/

Bevan · #2 09-09-2014, 08:00 PM

Welcome Garet!

You're in good company here. As you probably know there is a great resource of archived and human knowledge (and opinions) here on VAF. Check in regularly and often.

Bevan
Abbotsford BC

DaveO · #3 09-10-2014, 05:26 AM

I have an 7A also -flying.
Glad that you are building. Fun project, frustrating also at time, hang in there it will be worth it. There is plenty of help if you need it here on this site.
Dave/ Indiana

wirejock · #4 09-12-2014, 08:11 AM

Welcome Garet. Good choice. Remember, this is supposed to be fun so if you get frustrated, take a step back and remind yourself it's fun. Get the family involved so it's family fun.

Aero_Octaveus · #5 09-12-2014, 11:16 PM

Well thank you guys! Great advice! I've already have my son sorting tools. I have to laugh cause he's in it like a dirty shirt already! (he's only 3)

First big snag tonight. I think i'm going to hate riveting! My tool box went together so nice...it was precision & perfection. Then I dimpled using the pneumatic squeezer, so so....the hinges bowed. Still ok. The I started to rivet....Holy! I tried the squeezer, it was ok after i figured out how to tease the trigger to close the gap and center it on the rivet. Then i pulled out the 3X rivet gun and proceeded to nearly destroy the tool box!!! Things were moving everywhere, trying to push with the rivet gun, hold the bucking bar, box moving around, some rivets sticking up, had about 1 rivet in 15 that were nice!

SR2500 · #6 09-13-2014, 06:05 AM

Garet
This is one of those things you will need some help on. If you have an EAA chapter nearby, someone will be willing to show you the intricacies of riveting. Then you will need to practice quite a bit before taking the gun to the aircraft. You'll also need someone to help buck the rivets in several areas, so work on training a good friend as well. A good mentor from our chapter came over one day and taught my wife and I how to rivet, we practiced and then she bucked all my rivets and I shot them with the gun.
Best,
Jerry Folkerts