Section 38 Rear Window Install

 RV14 Build August 21

Canopy and Window

I waited on the rear window install to make it easier to get in and out of the plane to work. Now that I am moving to an airport its time get it installed. Don't use large clekoes to hold the window in place like I did. The black ones are bigger than #30 and I think one of them cracked the hole, luckily we caught it and were able to stop drill it.

Installed the roll bar screws with silicone sealant.

In the baggage tightening the screws down. None of these you can see a thread through so I may go through and replace them all. But I wanted to get the Pro seal set. I used a TINY nozzle from super glue bottle to get the proseal between the window and the fuselage, worked really well.

My tape plastic protection actually worked really well for keeping the fuselage clean.

Officially installed.

Rear Window Install 4 Man Hours

Section 31 Fuel System, Aircraft Specialty fuel line and Filters

RV14 Build January

Fuel System

I decided to go with the wing root fuel filter kit from Aircraft Specialty to make future filter cleaning easier and so each tank will have a seperate fuel filter, just in case 1 gets clogged then hopefully the other tank is still good.

Since my wings aren't on yet this is a picture from the website showing the setup.

Since the filter will be in the wing root, no point in keeping the filter in the center channel since it would be too tempting not to service. I luckily still had the AN fitting that came with the fuel pump and installed that first after removing the rigid line I put in.

Installing the metal braided line was a little tricky do to the tight spaces, but I was able to get it on and torqued with a crows foot.

Section 31 Fuel System .5 Hours

Section 36 Aileron and Elevator Systems

RV14 Build April 24th

Aileron and Elevator Systems

Since Im waiting on the wings I decided to put the tail together and rig the elevator.


Now that everything is back together I tested the elevator travel and it was close to the travel for the control surface deflection memo, but almost 5 degrees off what the plans call for.

I didn't know about the memo at the time, I only had the plans so I started to grind on the AFT Deck per the instructions. This made me really nervous, but in the end I achieved the control surface deflection required.

Only need a little of the forward left elevator horn deck stop ground.

When I was building the fuselage, I took the opportunity to grind the stops at the control stick so they where basically good. Since I took so much material off the aft deck I did need to grind the stops a touch more at the control stick in the aft stick movement direction.

Up Deflection

Down Deflection

I then the template to adjust the elevator bell crank and the pushrod ends.

While I was climbed up into the tail I decided to hook up the Garmin Yaw servo cables.

Now time for a test for the elevator and rudder!

Aileron and Elevator Systems 6 hours

Garmin AutoPilot Servo 1 Hours

Section 36 Aileron and Elevator Systems

RV14 Build January & February 

Aileron and Elevator Systems

Continue on with the Control sticks. Match drilling holes and cleaning out extra powder coating.

Looking at the kit supplied poles to drill

The powder coating was basically right on for how deep the control tubes go into the control brackets.

The control tubes must be a hard metal because they did a number on my drill bits. I had to step up 6 but sizes to drill rather than the 21 then 19 the plans say.

The through bolt to connect the control stick brackets to bearings is bent! Hard to see in the picture, but it wont go through the 2 bearings and the bracket.

 Well I can install the one side at least.

Checked the angle of movement. I ground the stops evenly when the plane was upside down during the joining of the fuselage sections. I did double check again with paper and still even.

Angle of movement are good!

Bib delivery!! Hardware, new plug and play control sticks, tools Oh my!!!

Generic sticks vs the plug and play stick. I was going to cut the kit supplied ones and but the control handle but adding up the cost it didn't make sense, wish I would have realized this before I drilled the other tubes. Oh well now I have spares?

Had to take the control sticks apart to see how they are wired. I am having most of the wiring done by Stein or from the kit, But I really want to understand it. The best way for me to do that is go work in there shop for 6 months, but since thats not possible I reverse engineer what they send me to make sense of it all.

Drilling the new control tubes.

Im dumb! I drilled the holes in the wrong orientation. The co pilot stick will have an extra set of holes drilled in it.

My innovative small washer holder.

Washer install

 Side sticks installed!

Aileron and Elevator Systems 7.5 Hours

Interior Topcaot

RV14 Build March 25 & 29

Interior Topcoat

I struggled to come up with a paint idea for the interior. I think I want a carbon fiber instrument panel so a lighter interior topcoat seemed smart. I have zero artistic ability so I hope this works with the final paint scheme.

I decided to go with Stewart Systems EcoCrylic Smoke Gray 2 part waterborne epoxy primer. I am really happy with how it sprayed out. I use a Concoure LT spray gun from Eastwood, it can run off 4.5 CFM. I set the pressure so when the trigger was depressed the air inlet pressure was 20psi, this was probably a little high, but it still sprayed well.

Started by masking off all the areas I dont want paint.

Firewall is masked.

Rear baggage area masked.

Moved the airplane into the paint booth.

Stewart Systems Paint. I didn't get a picture, but I used 400 grams of Part A. * I did mix up 50 more grams of color with the same ratios to finish the topcoating.

100 Grams of the flattener at a 4:1 to get a Satin finish.

125 Grams of Catalyst for a 4:1 of the 500grams of color and flattener.

55 Grams of Water, about half of the amount of catalyst used.

I did my best to fog coat and wet coat this on. As per Stewart Instructions. It was hard with the size of the gun and paint hopper and air hose limited access.

Finished product!

Couple smaller parts I sprayed. I also picked up 2 of these platforms to help stand on and get over the edge of the airplane.

Few days latter I installed the Upper FD Fuselage and Top coated all the areas that will be visible with the canopy up.

1 last part to install that I sprayed on its own.

Interior Topcoat 9 Man Hours