Nutplates/rivets/Vans Stupid Manual

[Flying Scotsman]

Three suggestions:

1. Get a rivet gauge and just use whatever rivet is the correct length (as noted, sometimes the manufacturing tolerances or your assembly skills will mean a shorter or longer rivet is better sized for some particular place). The plane won't fall out of the sky if you use a different rivet than what is in the plans (just make sure it's the correct length).

2. Scan the preview plans into a PDF file, then apply the OCR algorithm to make them searchable. You can then find every callout for any particular part, bolt, nut, rivet, whatever, throughout the entire plans set. Saves a lot of time flipping pages back and forth in the book and searching for a part.

3. "...it's just my nature to have little patience..." - Make haste slowly.

[Flying Scotsman]

Originally Posted by pgroell

By the way, the manual does not tell you to install the bolts going into those specific nutplates when you install the wings, and I understand from reading the VAF forums that those bolts tend to be forgotten during final assembly.

DWG 11 Area A-4 shows AN4-13A bolts there.

[SmittysRV]

Huh?

(captions welcome)...

[Inplaneview]

[quote=Flying Scotsman;681489]Three suggestions:


2. Scan the preview plans into a PDF file, then apply the OCR algorithm to make them searchable. You can then find every callout for any particular part, bolt, nut, rivet, whatever, throughout the entire plans set. Saves a lot of time flipping pages back and forth in the book and searching for a part.


That is a great suggestion!

[Flying Scotsman]

Be advised...in the interest of Configuration Management, the actual, full-sized plans may have revisions between the time you get the Preview Plans set with the manual and the time you get the full-size plans with each subkit. (I don't recall now if you get updated 11x17 preview plans pages, too, but I don't believe so). ALWAYS CHECK the full-size plans once you've found the page/location you need.

I even used an "OBSOLETE" stamp to mark preview plans pages for those that have been updated. I know, it's anal, but it's the engineer in me...

But I've found the OCR-processed PDFs to be really invaluable...saved huuuuuge amounts of time on various occasions...

[FL370]

Originally Posted by rapid_ascent

Mark,

Most of the time the Info is there somewhere. Sometimes it takes awhile to find. Make sure you look at all the details on the drawings. When I can't find something I just keep looking. Eventually I find it.

My complaint would be that they could add more detail into the instructions. Several times thus far I've struggled to figure something out then once I do I'm like that was easy why didn't they just say that.

Just remember it's all part of the learning process. You absorb a lot of knowledge during the build. As you get farther though the build you need less help.

Seems like we are at the same point in our build. I had to ask VAF how to buck those same rivets.

Good luck,



Ray

Hi Ray,
So what did you find was the easiest way to set those rivets? I'm not too keen on removing it from the jig to flip it over. I did them somehow on the left spar ages ago and I have no idea what I did. Now I'm on the right wing scratching my head.
Thanks!

[agirard7a]

Here's the BIBLE on riveting. Rivet guages are fine but in my opinion, know the facts: http://vansaircraft.com/public/Specs.htm#TABLE III .Tabel III tells it all. Buy an anolog 1,000th measuring tool from Harbor freight or where ever. (needed for measuring material thickness) Measure the driven heights of the shop end, if within range, the diam. will 99% be in the range if you used close to the right length rivet.

Rivet guages measure the mean but are not the end all. If a rivet guage does'nt fit or is loose over the shop head, passes or not on the verticle, it doesnt mean its wrong. Should be called a rivet guide.