How did you prevent damage to skins and ribs during construction?

Brantel · #1 01-22-2008, 02:30 PM

Please share the creative ways that you prevented damage to your seat and bagage area skins and ribs while in construction.

Seems it is almost impossible to prevent having to get in there and apply pressure to these areas. It also seems that until they are all tied together with rivets and screws, that damage could be very easy to cause. The area forward of the spar seems like it would be easy to damage as well. Also, list any ideas for getting into the tailcone without causing damage to the bulkheads and bottom skins.

I assume this is no problem for the fly weight people out there but I also see that lots of RV builders are heavier to which I can definately relate. So how do you do it without problems?

prkaye · #2 01-22-2008, 02:33 PM

I'll be interested in hearing answers to this too... I'll be rolling my canoe in a few days. The thought of stepping into it and putting my weight down scares me... somehow doesn't look like something that should support my weight... where are the 2x8 joists???

Rick6a · #3 01-22-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brantel

......Seems it is almost impossible to prevent having to get in there and apply pressure to these areas......So how do you do it without problems?

I can't speak to the RV-7 series instructions, but the RV-8 series directs the builder to fabricate temporary plywood floors.

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #4 01-22-2008, 03:43 PM

Big giant pillows. Everytime me or a neighbor throws another old '70s-style couch or chair out of the house, I grab the cushions. Trash day is a day I drive slower in the neighborhood.

robertahegy · #5 01-22-2008, 03:56 PM

Rich strung me up by my ankles and dangled me in there until I was done. Just kidding!! The boards and pillows are the best way. Keep the fuselage low so you can reach in from the outside as much as possible. Or dangle it overhead and reach upward.

Roberta

Jekyll · #6 01-22-2008, 03:57 PM

1. Keep your feet on the ground as much as possible. I've got no more than 8 hours inside the fuse in 1700 hours of building.

2. Wood floors.

3. Cushions/foam.

4. Have a small, spry friend who loves to work on airplanes.

5. Use your kids in the tail section.

Jekyll

JonJay · #7 01-22-2008, 05:04 PM

Boards and whatever cushioning you can find. The boards do not need to be anything cut to dimmension, just enough to lay on so you can move them around. I got most use out of a board that was 12"x36" 3/4" ply. Supports your wieght, easy to shift around. If your bigger, maybe a bit wider but dont waste your time custom building them to fit your floors.

jmartinez443 · #8 01-22-2008, 05:06 PM

One word: rostiserrie. Here's mine: http://www.rv8alog.com/fuselage/cockpit/cockpit.htm

tacaruth · #9 01-22-2008, 05:12 PM

I know that "flipping the canoe" is a big step in the construction of an RV. I was very excited when that day came for me. After working on it rightside up for about a day, I turned it back upside down. I installed the floors, landing gear mounts, rear bulkhead cover, etc with it turned upside down. I even test fit the landing gear legs with it upside down. I had some rubber mats (to save the knees) and a small stool to sit on. After everything possible was installed I flipped it rightside up and used some 2x6's to spread my weight.

gasman · #10 01-22-2008, 06:27 PM

Wal-Mart........... Bean bag chair. Cut it open and remove 1/2 of the beans and place them in an old king size pillow case. Now you have two 1/2 filled bags that will lay and conform to the shape that you place them over and spread out your weight. Mutch softer than plywood to lay on............