Hey Jereme.
That must feel awesome to have on gear and all ready to roll around
Keep it up!
Jereme, I saw some of these new front ends ready for shipment a week or so ago at Vans. I was sure I saw your name on one of them! I wasn't sure so I didn't let the cat out of the bag.
That thing looks sick!
Must be one of the first RV's with one installed.
Great times!
Hi Jereme,
It is good to see your project progressing, it must be very satisfying for you.
A comment - when you come to install your wings and set the angle of incidence you will need to ensure the top longerons are perfectly level both longitudinally and from side to side. That is the reason I left my fuselage in the build stand as I knew I had the right levels with no movement after I installed the wings. I only put the fuselage on its landing gear after I had set the angle of incidence and drilled all the holes required, plus removed the wings again to install all the anchor nuts.
With your project now on its landing gear the longerons will definitely not be level longitudinally. Plus when you install the wings the weight of the wings will deform the tyres further. Therefore you will need to compensate by adjusting how the fuselage is sitting to ensure the longerons are level in both axis as per the instructions.
Keep up the good building and I will look forward to future posts.
Cheers,
Looks great Jereme! Sounds like yours may have been a little easier than mine, but I am super happy to have made the switch. Nothing against the old design, but this seems much better.
I think the only reason I was slightly earlier was being so close to the mothership.
Cheers!
dan
Yep, Kent hit it on the head. We expose them areas so the mount isn't changed at all even after adding the fire protection.
Jereme: For the firewall-mounted items other than the engine mount, are you mounting them on top of the fiberfrax-titanium sandwich, and if so, yep it is all mounted on top of the fiberfrax and titanium, this method helps to secure the titanium to your firewall as well.
1. Are you worried about the fasteners loosening up without a direct fit against the firewall metal?
No I'm not worried about it, the fibrax compresses quite well and is only 1/8" thick. The bolts are also torqued to their normal spec. I also put torque seal inside where I can inspect the bolts.
2. Did you find you needed longer bolts to accomodate the extra space the fiberfrax takes up?
Yes there were often times where I needed longer bolts but just barely. I probably would have been fine with the Van's specced bolts but I have found they sometimes spec on the small side with hardly any thread showing.
3. Any concerns about electrical grounds? Is your firewall ground directly against the firewall?
I am using a 48 tab forest of tabs ground block found here. This bolts through the firewall sandwich of stuff and connects it all as one ground. The titanium is also electrically grounded via the myriad of bolts and rivets holding it on too.
I was planning on only applying the fiberfrax to the areas of the firewall that don't have stuff on it.
I'm sure this would probably be enough surface area protection that you would get the protection benefit but then again I haven't tested it. DanH would be your guy to ask on that one.
That ELT mount is a total pain in the rear! I barely got the blind rivets in the bottom even with a "wedge" and a second twist of the rivet tool and a lot o cussing!
How did you fall on the placement of your antennae?
Ya I hear ya, I had the same problems.
As far as antenna placement I basically followed the plan that Stein released awhile back. I also wanted my ADSB-472 and XPNDR in the aft fuselage. I'm not following their plan to the T but close enough. My GPS antennas I think will go on the glare shield and ELT on the top of the aft fuse.
Hey Jereme! How thick was your doubler on those antennae?
Kent
I love this forum. I was having the same issue but my ?lightbulb? was busted. Thanks for the write up. It is funny that when someone else figures out a solution ,that it was so ? obvious?.
Jereme,
Maybe you answered this in a different post but why are you using a different nut than what the plans call out for?
I did have to take off about 1.5 inches from the stock length of the sticks which I really didn't want to do. I wanted to keep the sticks as long as possible but there was interference with the controls.
If the -7 stick length is similar to the -6 then I'll bet you won't miss it. I cut my stick off for panel clearance and even then, RV controls are so light and responsive I fly most of the time with my hand on my knee -- so, below where the grip would be if I had one. Maybe if you're into serious aero (and maybe not even then, but I couldn't say for sure) the extra leverage isn't needed and would get in the way more than not.
My opinion, others may differ!
Just back into Beast mode, I see!
Thanks for ALL the help on the wiring I am trying to figure out, still knee-deep but working as diligently as I can.
Here is to a great new year of building and flying!
That looks great! I ordered the FlyLeds kit for my 10 several months ago, which was way earlier than I needed it. I've been itching to solder it together ever since so that I could see them light up but I've been holding off since the instructions say to trim the boards to fit the wing tips first. I'm not even close to doing that yet so I'm going to have to wait a while longer.
I picked my lights up from osh 2019. I put them together last week. There is a thermal adhesive used for the landing lights The tube in my kit was getting hard, but there was still plenty left to do all I needed.That looks great! I ordered the FlyLeds kit for my 10 several months ago, which was way earlier than I needed it. I've been itching to solder it together ever since so that I could see them light up but I've been holding off since the instructions say to trim the boards to fit the wing tips first. I'm not even close to doing that yet so I'm going to have to wait a while longer.
Are we getting close to an update?
I picked my lights up from osh 2019. I put them together last week. There is a thermal adhesive used for the landing lights The tube in my kit was getting hard, but there was still plenty left to do all I needed.
Based on this adhesive, I wouldn't wait too long to assembly the lights.
Holy ****! You're done! What the heck, I think this is unfair for some reason LOL!
Good that you will be done so you can travel to Portland and help me wire up my plane as you are obviously just showing off all your skills!
Machine!
PS I did not type four * haha
Jereme, you might want to think about your location of that ELT alarm as it has a battery to be replaced and that looks like a hard spot to reach!
Yep I thought that too and was planning a different location but Van's just came out with some slick access covers that go right above that in the forward top skin. Sweet access now!
Like wise for the Dynon B/U battery.
Well...we talked on the phone about this exorbitant pace you are on so no need to rehash how unfair it is that you work so fast...
Just did the same myself. Fun job. Makes me feel safer on flight control connections
I remember those with the 7a rebuild. Major PIA!
A while back I read about a technique to make installing those washers easy.
Included making a short "rod" about .020" shorter than the rod end plus washer stack. Make it out of a piece of drill rod or bolt shank.
Put the short rod through the rod end, place a washer on each side, then slip the stack between the flanges. Line up the short rod with the flange holes.
Now push the rod out with the bolt that will be used to fasten the rod end. Add nut, torque, walk away.
Seriously, installing those push rods takes one try and is faster than reading this tip.
Cheers
Just beautiful Jereme.
This build thread has been an inspiration to me and I am sure to many others.
Congratulations on the progress!