Flaperons completed

Started the day off by attaching the nose skins. The rod-end bearings were then placed with loctite 243 and screwed in per measurement on plans. This completes the wing kit. The fuselage kit will be ready at the end of June, so that gives me a little time to work on the wing tip lights and other projects around the house.

Time: 1.75 hrs.

Flaperon nose skins

Installing rod end bearings

Rod end bearing installed

Flaperons complete

Flaperons continued

A good portion of the flaperons were assembled today. The plan called out for fabricating actuation brackets and pivot brackets, but lucky me it looks like Vans has had those pre-fabricated. What a time saver! The small flaperon parts were primed and then I assembled the flaperon skeletons.   The aft skins were then attached. The plans call for making sure the skins lay flat against the main ribs, which at first they appeared to lay flat. After riveting the skins it does look like there is a little bow outward of the skins between the main ribs. This will be something I will have to look at in the future to see if they will need to be adjusted by squeezing in on the trailing edge. For now we will leave as is.

Time: 5 hrs.

Inboard nose rib

Priming of small flaperon parts

Flaperon skeleton complete

Aft skins clecoed

Aft skins riveted

Right wing finish / start flaperons

Great accomplishment today getting the right wing completed (minus the tip lighting). Started out attaching the handle and top skins. The hole was cut in the tip closeout for the lighting. The closeout was riveted and the right wing was placed in the cradle with the left wing. Don't they look great together!  I have ordered some epoxy that will be needed to install the wing tip lights, so that will have to wait for another day.

Then on to the flaperons. The counterbalance was match drilled and attached to the nose ribs. The outbd nose skin was clecoed and the counterbalance was match drilled.

Time: 3.5 hrs

Right Wing Tip Top Skins

Right wing Tip Top skins

Marking hole for lighting

Wings complete and in cradle

Flaperon counterbalance

Flaperon counterbalance

Match drilling outbd nose skin