This is my journey to build an Vans RV14 from plans. With the exception that I have later decided to order the RV14 Quick Build Wing. Building mostly alone I was worried about riveting well do to the large size of the wings.
Labels
13-16QBW
21-22QBW
Access Panel Installation
Aft Fuselage
Aft Fuselage Attachment
Aileron & Elevator Systems
Aileron Actuation
Aircraft Specialty
Antenna
Antisplat
Attachment
Avionics
Avionics Panel
B&C Filter
Baffle
Baggage Area
Bottom Wing Skins
Canopy and Window
Canopy harness
Common Fuselage Harness
Control Cables
Cowling
Deydrator
EICAD
Electrical
Eletric Aileron Trim
Elevator
ELT
Empennage
Empennage Fairings
Engine Installation
Exhaust
Exp119 Mods
finishing kit
Firewall
Flap Actuation System
Flap Position Sensor
Fuel and Oil System
Fuel System
Fuel Tank repair
Fuel Tanks
Fuselage
FWD Fuselage Lower Structure
FWD MID FUSE Side Structure
FWD MID Fuselage Bulkheads
FWF
GAP 26
Garmin AutoPilot Servos
Horizontal Stabilizer
Interior Topcoat
Landing Gear & Engine Mount
MID Fuselage Lower Structure
Miscellanea
Move
OP62
Outboard Leading Edge
Paint
parking brake
PitoStatic
Programming
QBW
QBW Corrosion
QBW Re-Work
Reiff
Roll Over Structure
Rudder
Rudder & Brake System
seatback's
shop
Skybolt
Spinner and Propeller
Testing
Upper FWD Fuselage
Vertical Stabilizer
Wheel Fairings
Wing Attachment
Wing Rebuild
Wing Systems Routing
Wing Tip
Wiring
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Attachment of the Empennage components
RV14 Build September 23 & 25
Attachment
Finishing up the attachment, I have to mount the right elevator and drill the elevator horns, mount the horizontal stab and final drill the rear spar to attachment brackets, install the horizontal stab, mount the rudder and check all the clearances! Time to work.
Using my new toy to check the degrees of deflection to make sure I have a full range of motion. I did have trouble with the elevator leading edges rubbing on both right and left. I had in take them off message the leading edge shape and re-install a few times before it was right.
I didn't get a picture of it but the plans have a small piece of tube that "fits" into the center bearing for the elevator attachment and a #30 drill bit fits in the middle that is used to drill the pilot hole before using the step drill. Followed plans but I used emery cloth and my power drill to reduce the diameter of the tube to fit snug into the bearing and then the drill drill to final drill the center of the tube to take the drill bit. Next I stepped drilled the hole to its final size.
This is kind of a pain because I kept dropping the washers, but in the end I needed required washers plus 1 of the thin spacer washers per side.
Done and O so pretty
Looking good!
My original plan was to step up the hole size and final drill it with the reamer, but I didn't have the clearances with the drill to get straight on the holes.
The vertical and horizontal stabs are on.
Boom rudder is on! This is a little tricky by yourself but it can be done with some tape to hold as a third hand
Rudder looks good, Still planning to rebuild it, but Ill fly with this one first and rebuild before I paint I think?
Checking the rudder clearances, all good.
This kit besides the fairing tips is done!! Just got the bill of lading for the fuselage kit so perfect timing I would say. Photo shoot time!!
Using my new toy to check the degrees of deflection to make sure I have a full range of motion. I did have trouble with the elevator leading edges rubbing on both right and left. I had in take them off message the leading edge shape and re-install a few times before it was right.
I didn't get a picture of it but the plans have a small piece of tube that "fits" into the center bearing for the elevator attachment and a #30 drill bit fits in the middle that is used to drill the pilot hole before using the step drill. Followed plans but I used emery cloth and my power drill to reduce the diameter of the tube to fit snug into the bearing and then the drill drill to final drill the center of the tube to take the drill bit. Next I stepped drilled the hole to its final size.
Time in install the elevators and figure out which combination of washers works!
This is kind of a pain because I kept dropping the washers, but in the end I needed required washers plus 1 of the thin spacer washers per side.
Done and O so pretty
Looking good!
On to mounting and final drilling the horizontal stab. I had to pull the elevators back off to do this. You final drill the top and bottom holes on each side.
My original plan was to step up the hole size and final drill it with the reamer, but I didn't have the clearances with the drill to get straight on the holes.
I bought and angle drill but it was too big and bulky so I had to go with long drill bits, I still tried to step up the hole size and finish with the reamer. This worked, but Im gonna need to invest in a tight space angle drill I think.
Thats on and drilled, now I put the Vertical Stab back on and mock up the rudder and the elevators, again, to check final clearances.
Installing the rudder rod end bearings. I used my small ruler and micrometer to get the distances correct here again.
The vertical and horizontal stabs are on.
Boom rudder is on! This is a little tricky by yourself but it can be done with some tape to hold as a third hand
Rudder looks good, Still planning to rebuild it, but Ill fly with this one first and rebuild before I paint I think?
This kit besides the fairing tips is done!! Just got the bill of lading for the fuselage kit so perfect timing I would say. Photo shoot time!!
Attachment 8.0 Hours
Aft Fuselage
RV 14 Build September 13 & 17
Aft Fuselage
My replacement horizontal stab attach bar support angle showed up and I was able to get it cut, prepped and primed on the first day of work.
This is the plans for the rework.
I have a better understanding of what the angle does and where it sits, it definitely helped in the fabrication knowing how it will be used.
Overall Im happier with this version of the support angle than the first, I did have to go back and hit it with a little more primer after it was done drying I noticed my coverage on part wasnt great.
Getting ready to match drill the hole that I messed up the first time around.
Match drilling successful this time!
Pretending to rivet for the Camera lol
Done! And this completes Section 10: Aft Fuselage
This is the plans for the rework.
Overall Im happier with this version of the support angle than the first, I did have to go back and hit it with a little more primer after it was done drying I noticed my coverage on part wasnt great.
Time to work the install!
Getting ready to match drill the hole that I messed up the first time around.
Match drilling successful this time!
Pretending to rivet for the Camera lol
Done! And this completes Section 10: Aft Fuselage
Aft Fuselage Hours 4.0
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Attachment of the Empennage components
RV14 Build September 12
Attachment
Since Im still waiting on a bracket and the next kit I started to mess around with attaching the components today.
Doing this wasn't in the plans yet, but I wanted to see it all together!
Measured the bolt grip length and labeled them, also labeled the bags with the socket size. Should have done this a long time ago.
Vertical stabilizer Mounting plate is installed!
I thought this would be hared to get the rod end bearings close to the correct distance but it was relatively straight forward, the threats move it a lot with 1/2 a turn when you are close so its easy to tell where you should be.
Left Elevator installed on the horizontal Stabilizer!
Doing this wasn't in the plans yet, but I wanted to see it all together!
Measured the bolt grip length and labeled them, also labeled the bags with the socket size. Should have done this a long time ago.
Vertical stabilizer Mounting plate is installed!
Just looks so good!
Installed the trim motor finally, now the Elevator section is technically done!
I thought this would be hared to get the rod end bearings close to the correct distance but it was relatively straight forward, the threats move it a lot with 1/2 a turn when you are close so its easy to tell where you should be.
Left Elevator installed on the horizontal Stabilizer!
Attachment 2.0 Hours
Horizontal Stabilizer mistake repair...AGAIN
RV14 Build September 12
Horizontal Stabilizer
The repair that I thought worked...well didn't. The two holes that I drilled are 3/32 different on there center point. I have no idea how I was so far off. Oh well, plan B it is. Drill out the rear spar, flip it and install it in the correct orientation to the front spar. Then I can use the front spar mounting holes that Vans Drilled.
Time to start drilling rivets!
Got the rear spar out without any damage!
Using a punch to remove the old rivets from the spar since its thick.
Its nice that I can use the squeezer to install all these at least
Almost have the top done.
Top is done, just flip and repeat
All the pop rivets are back in and now have to squeeze the last rivets on the inner ribs.
Done and Done! Call the Horizontal Stabilizer section complete....Finally.
Horizontal Stabilizer 3.0 Hours
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