Hinge | Andrew's RV-7 Build Log

Started Riveting Right Flap Hinge to Wing

November 3, 2012

Whoa. He’s back. Again. I know the updates have been few and far between, but please rest assured: I have not been working on the airplane without updating the site. I guess that’s not a good thing either…

I spent a few hours today cleaning out the garage and reorganizing a little.

Much better. (Sorry, you don’t get a “before” shot.)

Then, I decided to work on the airplane. Since I haven’t coordinate the cousin to come over and bang out some of these bottom skin rivets, I figured I could rivet the flap hinge up until it prevents me from bending back the skin.

It should be just a couple rivets.

I do need to trim the one side of the flap hinge, though.

You can just barely see that I made a mark on the hinge.

After removing the flap.

Here’s the trim line on the outboard side of the hinge.

This is pretty self-explanatory.

This one, too.

Oh yeah, I needed to smooth out the eyelet remnants where I had snipped them off to make a centrally-inserted set of hinge pins. See this post for more.

All smooth.

Looks pretty good on the outboard side.

Same on the inboard side.

Let’s get to riveting. The rivet callout here is an AN426AD3-4.

I love these yellow bins. Highly recommended for your project.

I didn’t really feel like getting out the rivet gun (and I can’t use my no-hole yoke because the eyelets get in the way), so I made it work with my economy squeezer.

An action shot!

After 8 perfect rivets, I couldn’t help but take a picture of some shop heads.

Look at how perfect that guy is!

0.5 hour. 8 rivets. Again. Not bad for not working on it in 2 months.

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1 Comment | Wings | Tagged: Andrew seems to be unmotivated, Economy Squeezer, flap, garage, Hinge, Wing | Permalink
Posted by Andrew

Drilled Left Flap Hinge

October 9, 2011

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Today, I kind of accidentally worked on the airplane. I wasn’t really planning on it, but I was taking out the garbage (see lower left of first picture), and I just happened to drill the first hole.

Then, I kind of drilled half the holes, and had to go back inside to get the camera.

But wait, let’s back up. I spent a lot of time the other day and before starting to drill to really make sure everything was lined up really well.

Halfway done.

Here’s my technique. I had some c-clamps along the whole length of the hinge, and every few holes, I’d cleco the drilled holes, move my three sideclamps down, drill three more, then CHECK THE HINGE FOR FREE MOVEMENT.

I’m not sure what I could have done if it had gotten out of alignment, but I was paranoid about doing this right, and my paranoia turned out to be fore no reason.

Turned out great.

After drilling all the hinge holes, I took the clamps off and was rewarded with baby’s-butt smooth hinge movement.

Done!

There’s still a little on the end I need to trim, but I’ll figure that part out another day.

I'm taking the win while I can.

Time for football!

0.5 hours.

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Leave a Comment » | Wings | Tagged: Clamp, drill, Football, Hinge | Permalink
Posted by Andrew

Started the Left Flap

October 6, 2011

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THE CHANGING OF THE PLANS!!!! [triumphant music]

Wuhoo!

Okay, this time, I’m going to be smart, and start with the left flap (the one that’s depicted on the plans).

First, I found some parts, then pulled the blue vinyl off the spar and ribs.

That longer rib on the left is actually the wrong part. I assumed there was a L and R of the long ribs (forgot the part number), but those ribs actually are L-L for the left flap and R-R for the right flap. (The flanges of both ribs point outboard.) Weird.

Anyway, the directions have you mock the ribs up with the spar, then drill.

One thing that caught me was the #40 prepunched hole for the ribs, where they will be drilled to #30. Van’s doesn’t usually do this, but I confirmed on the plans (below) that LP4-3 blind rivets will go here eventually.

Weird, but okay...drill drill drill.

I love the very beginning of a new part because it goes together quickly.

See!? I'm already clecoing on the bottom skin!.

WHOA. Van’s basically tells you in the instructions that you will need shims between the “rear spar” and the aft end of the ribs. Why don’t I need any?

They must have tightened up the tolerances on the pre-punching.

I guess I don’t need to make those shims…

Anyway, after flipping it over…

It's starting to look like an airplane!

…I got a visit.

Ginger looking at the airplane, Jack sniffing.

Jack looking at the airplane, Ginger sniffing.

They also eat, sleep, and poo… (I can’t believe I used “poo” in my blog. Sorry, mom!)

Back to work!

I do need two spacers per flap, so I made four now.

Here's where they go. I'll drill the other hole later.

Next, they ask you to get the hinge out and start drilling it.

Hmm. I’m not quite ready for this tonight. I got it aligned with where I think it should be, but I want to sleep on it (and more importantly, surf some other build sites to make sure I’m on track.)