Author Archives: Michael Carter

About Michael Carter

Programmer, Pilot/Builder and Amateur Radio enthusiast living in the Bay Area of California.

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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Big time learning session

Tonight the 1/8″ dimple die set arrived, and so we jumped right in and finished dimpling the outside edge of part 1 of the practice project. We tried dimpling a couple with the locking die pliers we bought, and then … Continue reading

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Let the Madness Commence!

And off we go! Today we started the practice project! The final blocker for us going is now resolved…I finally bought a compressor. I’d been waiting on someone I know to get me the specs on theirs, which they wanted … Continue reading

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Making space

I’m planning on building at least the empennage kit in my garage, but am finding that I need to go on a cleaning spree if I ever hope to have the room. I’ve already started cleaning off the 8’ block-top … Continue reading

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Compressor Depression

Okay, so now that I received the bulk of the tools I need to start the practice project, I need to decide on what kind of air compressor to buy! The air compressor is really only going to be used … Continue reading

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The tools are here!

After an unexpected break from the project, I’ve returned home and found all the tools I’ve ordered have been delivered! Exciting! Since I went over them in previous posts, I won’t expound too much on what I got. EVerything arrived, … Continue reading

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To Prime or Not To Prime…That is the Question

There are a bunch of decisions that have to be made when you start an airplane-building project, other than what it is you’re going to build. Things like where to build it? What timeline do you want to try to … Continue reading

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