Monthly Archives: September 2020

Practice project trailing edge

Continuing on with the practice project, tonight we installed the leading edge wedge and through-drilled and clecoed. The challenge here was drilling at 84 degrees to the skin. For that I laser cut a gauge on the Glowforge, according to … Continue reading

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Found a Hangar!

Huzzah! I just heard back from the airport manager that there is a hangar coming available this month at our airport. We’re super-excited given we missed out last month on a smaller T hangar, which was okay, but not quite … Continue reading

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The “shop” is shaping up!

I’m trying to make the most of the small build space I have to work with until a hangar comes available at the airport. Since I’ve started, I removed some rickety wall-mounted cabinets in the back of the garage, and … Continue reading

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Fabrication challenge!

The next chapter in the saga was to fabricate something from scratch. The instructions call for making this special dimple/bucking bar for the small area of the ribs that you can’t fit any other tool into: The tool we need … Continue reading

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Battle of the Back Rivet sets

We’re at the point in the practice project where we need to do some back riveting, which is, as one might assume, riveting from the back of the work piece instead of the front. I had initially bought my back … Continue reading

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Hangar Update

I spent this last weekend down at the local airport and hang out with a friend. It was a great! My friend took me around to a couple hangars, and met Denny, who’s also building a Vans aircraft. His is … Continue reading

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More Tools!

I’ve been buying more tools lately. Now I have SIX air tools, where I once had 1! Not pictured is a small spray gun I plan to use to prime parts. I’ve also picked up some more clecos (now I … Continue reading

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Practice Kit, Part Deux

Having survived Practice Kit Part #1, we’ve now moved on to Part #2: the Aerfoil Section! The goal for this kit is to further hone your skills by building a small (12″ wide) aerfoil section, which includes 2 skins, 4 … Continue reading

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