I have mucho respect for all who have built an RV and even more respect for those who have built an RV and managed to maintain great, informative web sites, too. What a fine community!
I am almost done with my RV-7 Empennage. About 1.2 elevators is all that is left. It's been fun and progress has come more quickly and easily than expected.
The HS, VS, and rudder were all fairly straight-forward to build. I guess the toughest part was the little Ribik's Cube section where everything comes together in the center of the HS. But I made it thru that OK and have needed to order no replacement parts.
I must say, though, EVERYTHING that has to do with the elevator counterweights has been a royal pain. The ribs, the counterweight skin, the counterweights themselves. The first problem was that the PP holes in the ribs would not line up with the holes in the counterweight skin. Some were literally almost one hole width off - too wide. I foolishly thought it might be better after I riveted the ribs together, but no, it was worse. I called Van's twice. The first guy said just drill the holes out to an oval shape and it would be fine. I didn't like that idea. The next guy said use the Brute-Force method. I didn't like that idea, either. Thay said this was a common problem. I wish the smaller rib had simply not been pre-punched, then I could put the holes where they should be. And while many people have problems riveting these ribs to the end of the spar, curiously I had no problem at all with that. Trimming/drilling those lead weights? I never realized that working with lead would be like working with glue.
Everything I have worked on besides this elevator counterweight area has turned out great...truly work that I can be proud of. Conversely, I do not feel good about this elevator counterweight area. I have not been able to achieve the fit and finish here that I am comfortable with.
Thanks for listening,
Michael
I am almost done with my RV-7 Empennage. About 1.2 elevators is all that is left. It's been fun and progress has come more quickly and easily than expected.
The HS, VS, and rudder were all fairly straight-forward to build. I guess the toughest part was the little Ribik's Cube section where everything comes together in the center of the HS. But I made it thru that OK and have needed to order no replacement parts.
I must say, though, EVERYTHING that has to do with the elevator counterweights has been a royal pain. The ribs, the counterweight skin, the counterweights themselves. The first problem was that the PP holes in the ribs would not line up with the holes in the counterweight skin. Some were literally almost one hole width off - too wide. I foolishly thought it might be better after I riveted the ribs together, but no, it was worse. I called Van's twice. The first guy said just drill the holes out to an oval shape and it would be fine. I didn't like that idea. The next guy said use the Brute-Force method. I didn't like that idea, either. Thay said this was a common problem. I wish the smaller rib had simply not been pre-punched, then I could put the holes where they should be. And while many people have problems riveting these ribs to the end of the spar, curiously I had no problem at all with that. Trimming/drilling those lead weights? I never realized that working with lead would be like working with glue.
Everything I have worked on besides this elevator counterweight area has turned out great...truly work that I can be proud of. Conversely, I do not feel good about this elevator counterweight area. I have not been able to achieve the fit and finish here that I am comfortable with.
Thanks for listening,
Michael