Section 26 Mid Fuse Lower Structure seat rib work

RV14 Build October 25-November 6

MID Fuselage Lower Structure

Section 26 has a ton of parts!! Brining parts home to debur edges and prep for prime has really added to my productivity, not to mention its way more comfortable than the shop! I broke section 26 down into 2 builds, the seat ribs and the baggage area.

I clean the edges that I can on the scotch-brite wheel. I picked up a deburring wheel and I love it! I know its pricey but its not as aggressive on the parts and leaves a much better edge.

Then to the kitchen for all the edges the big wheel can't reach, mostly emery cloth and Dremel with a small sanding flap wheel.

Prime time!

Per the usual I thought assembling would go faster, turns out I still can only do 1 dimple and 1 rivet at a time....and there are a lot.

Step 1 add doublers.

Ive learned to break everything down into smaller bits so I don't spend days doing deburring or riveting, it definitely keeps it fun and interesting for me.

Dimpling the bottom with me sub-structure dimple dies, still love them.

The plans say to flute this area on all the seat ribs per the figure, but the figure doesn't show fluting on the F-01417-L ribs. After talking to Vans I was reminded we flute anytime that a part has a curve and doesn't lay flat, the plans know that from the lighenting hole stamping it adds a curve that needs to be removed so they tell you to flute. I just forgot why we do it and it added some confusion, I did to a ruler as a straight edge to check how much I needed.

Nutplates installed.

Cable Routing brackets.

Seat rib doubles installed.

Crotch strap brackets going in.

All the smaller bits are put together now just need to add them to the bulkheads.

MID Fuselage Lower Structure 16.5 Man Hours

Wrap up Section 25

RV14 Build October 26

FWD MID Fuselage Bulkheads

I had realized i missed the 2 side angles for the forward center section bulkhead and had to ream the holes in the 2 bulkheads still, didn't get any pictures of that unfortunately.

After reading the plans again there is a note on 25-05 "The outboard most cover ribs are attached using only one bolt at this time." I started to wonder if this meant don't install the second bolt but it was okay to rivet the cover ribs on still, after talking to Vans that turned out to be the case. So added the rivets and now section 25 is done!

FWD MID Fuselage Bulkhead 2 Hours

All of Section 25 Bulkheads

RV14 Build October 7-11

FWD MID Fuselage Bulkheads

So this is a big post but its 1 week of work that crushed it out!

When you first get started its a little slow going pulling all the parts for each section because there are so many and finding them in the "kits" takes time. The "kits" aren't organized by build section but rather physical size it seems.

This is all the parts for section 25....so i thought, turns out I was missing 2.

Decided to start brining work home in my new bin, I usually have a few hours in the morning before the gym or work that are wasted that I could be doing edge finishing and deburring.

Glamor shot of my countersinking the mid spares.

 All done!

The fuselage plans only show half the airplane if the other side is mirrored so learning to read this and lay out the parts is a bit of a challenge. Here I'm trying to lay out the bearing assemblies and countersink them. I had to mock it up before I understood the orientation completely. 

Good old prep for priming!

Finished the prep for priming in my boxers as home! liking the new productivity bin

 Back to priming.

Im getting better at working with my spray gun. I have turned the air down a little and all but closed the fluid nozzle, I can see how you want it wide open when spraying large surfaced but these smaller parts I was getting too much overspray.

New tool baby! Finally got the Cleaveland Tool Sub-Structure Dimple die. It makes a deeper dimple so the dimpled skin or other part sit in it better. Im using this on all substructure parts, where another dimpled part fits into it, and the regular dimple where a rivet will go into it.

The plans say for the next step to insert rivets top and bottom to help with alignment. When I did this I noticed the top 2 rows of rivets where really close to the bulkhead flange and I wouldn't be able to set them.

It was these 2 rows, so i put rivets in the bottom holes and covered with yellow tape to hold in place. This helped with the alignment and set the top rivets.

Putting the part on the bulkhead I noticed with the rivets where still really close/touching the flange. I knew this couldn't be right and after some head scratching I noticed the dimpled BOTTOM holes of the bulkhead where facing up....Bulkhead is upside down.

Such a better fit when everything is correctly aligned.

Dodged that HUMA moment and this bulkhead is done.

Per the plans used a drill press and a reamer I got from McMaster-Carr , they have everything for cutting its great, and reamed the holes with the wing attachment brackets.

Brackets reamed and installed with temporary hardware.

Bearing brackets assembled and back riveted. This should have been easier I feel like but I made it hard and 1 of the bearing was binding after installing it on the cover rib so I drilled it all out and re did the work. Really glad I did, now it works great.

Bearings on the cover ribs.

Installing the cover ribs on the spar.

I didn't get a finally picture because we were crushing work out, but besides the 2 side angles I missed and needed to prime and prep this section is done.

FWD MID Fuselage Bulkhead 29 Hours

Fuselage Inventory and organizing the shop

RV14 Build October 2 & 4

Fuselage

Continuing the inventory and organizing the shop!

Lots of counting. In the end I was only missing a few pieces of hardware.

Still counting

Things are starting to get organized. I separated all of the different rivets, pop rivets, nuts, bolts etc into their own bags and labeled everything. Made notations on the pull sheet to reference my new categories. Everything will then get put into plastic storage separators by type. AN426, AN470, Pop Rivets, and Hardware.

Boom! All organized and nice.

Now its time to reorganize the shop to fit everything in here.

Before.

After. I moved my storage racks against the other wall because this was kind of a dead space in the shop for me and put the shipping container on top of them to store the larger longer pieces still. I covered it with shipping paper just t help keep things clean. Way up top left is the Empennage control surfaces and in the top right above the paint booth is the rear fuselage.

Inventory 6.5 Man Hours, Shop 2.0 Hours

Fuselage Has Arrived!!

RV14 Build October 1 

Fuselage

The new kit is here!!!

The crate had some damage where a forklift had punched through but luckily no parts where hurt!

So much packing paper!

All my new awesome parts!

Lots of inventory ahead!

Inventory 2.0 Hours