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

Warning: preg_replace_callback() [function.preg-replace-callback]: Unknown modifier '|' in /home/mulder18/public_html/wp-content/plugins/text-control/text-control/markdown.php on line 766

–Finished trailing edge riveting
–Started rolling leading edges 

The trailing edge was finished with very good results. It’s well within spec. I’m very happy overall.Next up was the leading edges.

After testing a number options, I used a 3/4″ wooden dowel to roll the edges. The rolling went ok, but I still can’t get the 2 edges close enough to cleco. Also in trying the leading edge to bend more I slightly creased the leading edges. I finally gave up for the night fearing I would screw more stuff up.

–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. 

–Drilled back most holes in ribs to 7/64″ and installed pop rivets.
–Started prep work for trailing edge riveting

So after doing some punch list work on the rudder riveting so far, I began to set up the aluminum angle for completing the trailing edge.

Note 1: Drilled out bad rivet on ride side forward most bottom rib hole.

Note: 2: Need to find a way to squeeze rivet in 2nd most rear hole of right top rib for symmetry.