Jkkinz
Well Known Member
I woke up this morning feeling much better in knowing that I am not dyslexic or a complete idiot.
I have spent the past few days trying to perfect the bend in my longerons and get them to match the canopy deck. As the instructions indicated, I cut the full size template for the longeron bend off of sheet 17 and taped it to a flat board. Again following the instructions I made the measurments on the angle for the start of the bend and the end of the bend. I placed the angle in the vice and used the rubber mallet to create the gradual curve. Everything went as planned and I felt good to have the curve within the 1/16" of the line as required. So next it was time to fit and drill the canoppy deck...no joy. The flat portion of the forward deck followed the longeron perfectly but as I continued further aft the two edges did not come close. The aft end of the deck was extending laterally over the longeron by more than 1/4".
So what did I do wrong? Well after hours of checking and rechecking my measurments, reading and rereading the instructions as well as reading all that I could find on the forum and in other websites; I was at a loss to understand what I was doing wrong. So finally I called Vans for an answer. I was able to talk to Ken about my problem assuming that I had just missed something. But after describing to him my problem, he informed me that he had been noticing that the printing process for the template has not been all that accurate. He further said that they needed to look into why the printing was distorted and was planning to send out a notice to builders to explain the discrepencies in the template. Finally he said that it is most important that the longeron match the canopy deck and to just bend the longeron so that it will match the deck edge. He also said to use the template as a guide and not worry so much about matching the template perfectly. Wow that was a load off my shoulders, at least I know am not loosing it.
So last night I went back out to my trusty rubber mallet and vice and after several whacks in both directions I now have a perfect fit to the canopy deck. Next to the drilling and and beyond!
So the moral of this story is, if there are any others out there that think they are loosing it, have heart and know that you will persevere.
Happy building
Jim Kinsey
7A Fuselage
I have spent the past few days trying to perfect the bend in my longerons and get them to match the canopy deck. As the instructions indicated, I cut the full size template for the longeron bend off of sheet 17 and taped it to a flat board. Again following the instructions I made the measurments on the angle for the start of the bend and the end of the bend. I placed the angle in the vice and used the rubber mallet to create the gradual curve. Everything went as planned and I felt good to have the curve within the 1/16" of the line as required. So next it was time to fit and drill the canoppy deck...no joy. The flat portion of the forward deck followed the longeron perfectly but as I continued further aft the two edges did not come close. The aft end of the deck was extending laterally over the longeron by more than 1/4".
So what did I do wrong? Well after hours of checking and rechecking my measurments, reading and rereading the instructions as well as reading all that I could find on the forum and in other websites; I was at a loss to understand what I was doing wrong. So finally I called Vans for an answer. I was able to talk to Ken about my problem assuming that I had just missed something. But after describing to him my problem, he informed me that he had been noticing that the printing process for the template has not been all that accurate. He further said that they needed to look into why the printing was distorted and was planning to send out a notice to builders to explain the discrepencies in the template. Finally he said that it is most important that the longeron match the canopy deck and to just bend the longeron so that it will match the deck edge. He also said to use the template as a guide and not worry so much about matching the template perfectly. Wow that was a load off my shoulders, at least I know am not loosing it.
So last night I went back out to my trusty rubber mallet and vice and after several whacks in both directions I now have a perfect fit to the canopy deck. Next to the drilling and and beyond!
So the moral of this story is, if there are any others out there that think they are loosing it, have heart and know that you will persevere.
Happy building
Jim Kinsey
7A Fuselage