As a new (returning) builder, I've wondered about a few things that seem pretty ill-defined. Things like, how rounded to skin corners need to be? How broke (broken?) do skin edges need to be? And, of course, what to prime, if anything?
Turns out I have a source for all of those answers, or at least insight into how certain Wichita pros did it in 1970: my V35B Bonanza. So, off to the hangar I went.......
First, the corners. This is the front of the right-sided cowling. It's a little beat up, but it's 45 years old:
But that isn't where they crack. This is where they crack, at the first hinge rivet:
Then there's the lap joints. I don't see that any of them are broke (breaked?). But the skins are also much thicker than RV skins. My finger is there for scale. Looking closely, I suspect a lot of these corners were done by hand.
Some corners aren't radiused at all, but I've never heard of one cracking:
As an aside, I wonder how they got to the shop head on this one:
And my own entries into Primer Wars:
Here, notice the only things primed are the ruddervator mixer, which I think is steel, and the doublers behind the antennas, which were added on at some later date:
Not to say I'm not priming anything; just making conversation.
Happy New Year, VAF!
Turns out I have a source for all of those answers, or at least insight into how certain Wichita pros did it in 1970: my V35B Bonanza. So, off to the hangar I went.......
First, the corners. This is the front of the right-sided cowling. It's a little beat up, but it's 45 years old:
![2015-12-26%2009.41.31-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-DdGCBTz%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252009.41.31-S.jpg&hash=dc070192a6d3b747c1f3b2624cdfb727)
But that isn't where they crack. This is where they crack, at the first hinge rivet:
![2015-12-26%2010.07.36-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-PWmj3tn%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252010.07.36-S.jpg&hash=67cbc44a0e9d44caf8bcd93aa7fc4e56)
Then there's the lap joints. I don't see that any of them are broke (breaked?). But the skins are also much thicker than RV skins. My finger is there for scale. Looking closely, I suspect a lot of these corners were done by hand.
![2015-12-26%2009.48.33-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-5bftCJ6%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252009.48.33-S.jpg&hash=47f0ecf751b89f823fa6454e24e34a4f)
Some corners aren't radiused at all, but I've never heard of one cracking:
![2015-12-26%2009.43.56-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-wxkrr98%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252009.43.56-S.jpg&hash=5d0215f5490044ba4753dc5dbba78dec)
As an aside, I wonder how they got to the shop head on this one:
![2015-12-26%2009.47.10-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-pkHfn9k%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252009.47.10-S.jpg&hash=c948562f11e6bccfd6f8d1d514af2167)
And my own entries into Primer Wars:
![2015-12-26%2010.11.34-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-vZXBtcs%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252010.11.34-S.jpg&hash=1d75b5031e9d50bd58e48e42ddd7cb7c)
Here, notice the only things primed are the ruddervator mixer, which I think is steel, and the doublers behind the antennas, which were added on at some later date:
![2015-12-26%2010.11.19-S.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fswfraley.smugmug.com%2FTest-Gallery%2Fi-2JMrWJc%2F0%2FS%2F2015-12-26%252010.11.19-S.jpg&hash=35b88623525cb11bae7a01683b2a9b13)
Not to say I'm not priming anything; just making conversation.
Happy New Year, VAF!