Matt’s RV7 Build Log

–Finished match drilling rudder assembly

–Riveted stiffeners on the right skin
–Assembled rudder
–Match drilled skins and spars 

–Primed stiffeners
–Riveted stiffeners to left skin

I used Tempo Zinc Chromate on the stiffeners because I couldn’t find any self-etch locally. I does not seem to adhere well at all compared with the 7220. It’s good enough for these stiffeners but I won’t be using it again. 

The first few rivets for the left skin stiffeners were poorly driven because I couldn’t get the back rivet set to fit well against the stiffener flanges. I ground down the plastic on the back rivet set to get clearance against the stiffeners. After this the riveting work much better. 

–Washed stiffeners
–Etched stiffeners with Alumiprep 

–Finished assembling rudder skeleton
–match drilled counterbalance skin
–match drilled ribs, rudder horn, and lower spar

I fixed the counterbalance skin fit problem by shaping the counterweight a little more and by starting the clecos from the front and working backwards.

–Started assembly of rudder skeleton

The counterbalance skin was very difficult to get clecoed in place. I am setting aside to investigate before committing to drilling. 

–Finished dimpling skins and stiffeners

Note: Some holes in the skins look enlarged after dimpling. They are large enough for an oops rivet so I am going to move ahead with the 3-3 rivets.

–Match drilled rudder stiffeners and both skins
–Started dimpling rudder parts 

–Trimmed rudder stiffeners–Deburred all the edges