Matt’s RV7 Build Log

Today I was going to prime the left side parts but decided to go ahead and complete the riveting on the right elevator. Everything worked out well. When I do the left side I will be waiting to rivet 704 and 703 together until I get the short rib to the spar thereby avoiding the squeezer gymnastics needed to get all the rivets squeezed in that joint.

There’s two items I need to investigate further. First, Van’s came out with the soft rivet bulletin this weekend. Although I am not affected by their apparent mishap, it got me thinking that I had bought some rivets locally early on before knowing the difference between soft and hard rivets. And, just tonight, it felt like a few of the rivets were VERY easy to squeeze. The other thing I need to check on is the quality of my trailing edge bend. It seems like it needs a little more massaging in the middle sections to reduce some bowing I see. Work is going to kill me over the next couple of weeks so I might not get a lot more done on the elevators in November.

Tasks Completed:    

• Finished riveting the right elevator skeleton
• Riveted 701 skin to right elevator skeleton

Tonight I researched whether to dimple or countersink the E702 for riveting the E709 rib in place. It seems even though the instructions explicitly state to countersink, most everyone dimples both parts because it’s much easier and in an inherently stronger bond.

• Dimpled E702 and 709
• Deburred E702 and 709 

Note 1: I cut my spare micro-countersink cage down so that it would center over the outside holes at the end of the 702 spar and still clear the flange. I didn’t end up using it as I decided to dimple this part instead. I am sure though this will come in handy on tight spots in the future. Note 2: The price of getting the cage cut down is that I most likely ruined my bandsaw blade. 

• Drilled E701R skin, E713 and 709 ribs, and E702 spar
• Drilled aft 3 holes for right elevator tip to #30
• Diassembled right elevator 

–Drilled VS 707 to 702 hole to #5
–Riveted VS 707 to 702
–Clecoed skin to VS skeleton 

–Drilled out all 3 VS 707 to 702 rivets
–Straightened out VS 707 flange 

The fix worked out pretty well. The rib flange is only slightly deformed and the rivets are seated much better.

Again I spent a lot of time studying the plans and VAF.

Tasks Completed: 

• Bent HS 710 and 714
• Began removing the flange from both HS 702s as per the instructions.