Elevator May 23 & 24

May 20

Elevator

Paint - New Priming Method

My primer has shown up!! I also ordered some mixing-mate mixers and lid seals just to make my life easier.

Time to start the tedious process of cleaning metal to prep for primer.

New Primer Steps that Im going to use.
My new process is going to be soak with Eko-Etch for 1-3 mins at a 1:2 diluted mixture and and scuff to clean with the Scoth-Brite pads, Rinse well with water, let the parts dry, wipe off with 91% rubbing alcohol or MEK to clean just before priming.

Primer with the mixing-mates on them.

The primer is mixed 1:1. I wasn't sure how much I was going to need to do all the interior components of 1 elevator so I started with the smallest amount and it was just Barely enough.

I picked up the little airbrush gun that I saw on someones else blog that they liked for priming small parts. I used it for  this whole batch and it worked great for the smaller pieces, but should have used my paint gun for the larger ones. I just didn't want to have to clean both.

All suited up, I look like Im in a chemical suit! probably overkill but I don't to get the primer on my clothes and I definitely don't want to breath it in.

Primer turned out awesome, Im not sure if its any tougher than what I was using have testing it, but it goes on at a recommended 1-1.3mils thickness vs 3mils so that have to save some weight. The chemical resistance is far better that the previous stuff.

I decided to move the storage racks in the shops next to each other and open up the front space so it is usable. Not sure how I feel about it, we'll see how functional it is,

Elevator 7.5 Hours

Aft Fuselage May 19

RV14 Build May 19

Aft Fuselage

Still working ahead on the next section while I wait for my primer. First I continued to debur the Horizontal Stab attaching brackets. It took a little time because they are thick!

Next is the first real fabrication you have to do in the kit and all it is is cutting angle iron to size for the F-01411D Horizontal Stab Attach Bar and the F-14113-L&R Rudder Stops.

It took me a little bit to figure out the drawing and copy the cut marks onto the piece. Once I figured it out and it was to the band saw!

This is after the first cut, you can kinda tell that the sides angle in now.

The finished piece, before deburring.

Next up the Rudder stops. These went a little smoother since I am more comfortable reading the drawings and using the band saw.

All finished with the fabrication just need to counter sink the holes. I way able to use the Micro-stop counter sink tool on the outside holes, but the once closer to the flange I used the hand speed debur tool.

Next up was the mounting plates for the Vertical Stab. Mocking up, drilling and deburring.

I used the 3m cut and polish wheel to round the edges of the flange tabs so the skin will smootly rest against the radius.

Rear Fuselage 5.0 Hours

Elevator and Aft Fuselage May 18

May 18

Elevator

I continued working on the Elevator trim tab today. Normally I don't like to dimple anything before I Prime because the dimples will tear apart the scotch-brite pads I use to prep the metal for priming, But the plans have you final drill after you dimple so I went ahead and did the dimpling so I could drill. After you dimple you assemble the trim tab and final drill #33 the holes removing clekos 1 at a time. Well I don't have a #33 drill bit, but I do have a #34 and seeing as its only .002" smaller I hoped it would work.

These holes will get pop rivets installed so after drilling I tested to make sure the pop rivet would fit the very slightly smaller hole and it did thankfully.

The plans have you bend the edges of the trailing edges of all the pieces inward, I didn't really say how to do this so I started with a hand seamer and a block of wood,  then I remembered I had to bend lap joints for the rudder and used the correct tool.

So now all the prep I can do on the Elevators is done before priming, I ordered the primer but it wont arrive until next Friday so I decided to keep working on the next section while I wait.

Aft Fuselage

This part of the kit starts out like most. Cutting pieces to size and mocking up. I did decide to deburr the edges while I work on the parts as the come across the table instead of waiting until the end to do it all at once before priming like I did with the Elevators. I think this might be better mentally since I am spreading the deburring work around.

First step was to cut the cable guides. I used the band saw.

Next step had me separate the battery angles, and stiffeners.

One of the ends of the Battery Angles you have to cut this notch out, It goes right into the middle of the ned radius so you start there with drilling a #30 hole.

Using the spring loaded hole punch to mark the location.

After I drilled the hole I used the band saw to cut out the rest.

Next you cut off the extra material from the Longer J-Stiffeners. I used the band saw to ruff cut them, then metal sheers to trim it close and finally the die grinder with Scotch-Brite Course and Medium Pads

Then I deburred the long edges on the 3m Scotch-brite wheel. These stiffeners are thick so this took a little bit of time.

Next step to to modify the Horizontal Stab attach bar support angle.

I decided another day when I wasn't super hungry to make all these measurements, so I prepped a few pieces of work for the next day.

Elevator 2.5 Hours, Rear Fuselage 3.0 Hours

Elevator May 17

May 17

Elevator

All I have left for edge deburring was the elevator skins so I got to work on that today. I used the 3m Scotch-Brite wheel for most of the long edges and then the emery cloth for the spaces that the wheel doesn't get. I use what ever I need to, normally the 240 grit, initially and have moved to finish with the 600 grit. Bill stopped over today and helped out for a bit with one of the skins.

I saw this on another blog and thought I would try it out. Basically just glued a piece of emery cloth to a block of wood. It did ok, I prefer the 3m wheel for the longer runs still.

Now that all the edges are done I started to work on the trim tab for the left elevator. The plans have you counter sink the top of the forward spar where the hinge bracket is, and DIMPLE the bottom. They have you attach the hinge bracket before counter sinking. I didn't understand why at first, but in what is becoming a pattern I assumed the bottom was countersunk like the top and started before reading the directions. The CS bit chatters in the holes since the material is so thin without the hinge bracket clekoed in place.

The 3 holes that I CS instead of dimpling on the bottom, you can see the holes themselves are mis-shaped now. I ordered a new E-01405 Trim tab spar. Someday hopefully soon I will read more and slow down!

Elevator 5.5 Hours