Matt’s RV7 Build Log

I started on the trim tab tonight, but quickly got into a little trouble. The wood break I made for bending the elevator skin tabs does not have interlocking top half. So when I tightened the C-clamps the inside half slipped out causing a slight kink in the trib tab skin. It’s minor and helps “customize” my -7 but after that I hung up my tools for the night.

Tasks Competed:

• Began riveting skin to skeleton
• Mark elevator tab for drilling
• Started working on trim tab 

The jig worked pretty well. If I were to do it over I wouldn’t insert clecoes in the countersunk holes. The countersink was basically right to the edge so the holes distorted a little when I took the cleocos out. I think its minor issue since this part will be sandwiched between the dimpled skin and the trim tab hinge.

Tasks Completed:  

• Countersank E606PP using jig.
• Continued to scotchbrite and dimple left elevator skeleton parts. 

Tasks Completed:

• Began to scotchbrite and dimple left elevator skeleton parts.
• Built simple jig to hold E606PP for countersinking

–Removed jig from trailing edge
–Trimmed excess Pro Seal
–Cleaned holes with a #40 bit by hand
–Started the double flush riveting 

–Drilled aluminum angle jig
–Cleaned trailing edge of skins and the AEX wedge with MEK
–Prosealed trailing edge.

Well the big day has come and gone. Again since I did A LOT of blog reading ahead of time it went really well. Yes, Pro Seal is messy to work with but that’s what rubber gloves and paper towels are for. I used MEK for the first time to clean the parts. It stinks a heck of a lot more that acetone. After applying the Pro Seal everything got clecoed into the alum angle jig and left to cure for 2 days per the manual.