Over the last week or so I received a new bottom skin for the right elevator as well as a replacement left spar. The material is thin, and after drilling out a few bad rivets the holes were enlarged and metal actually was bent enough to make me abandon the repair and order new parts.
Now I am back where I need to be to resume riveting. The riveting on the rear spar on the right elevator is challenging as it is tough to secure the assembly and maintain the angle required to set good rivets. In addition the .016 skins are quite fragile. Hope all goes well. The holidays have slowed the progress down a bit for good reason, however I have had a chance to get to the garage a few times over the Thanksgiving break.
I am starting to think a bit more about the fuse kit and when to order. In addition, I am considering the QB fuse, simply to move the project along a lot quicker. Although that would certainly force the finish kit to be ordered at the same time and I am not mentally ready for that. Especially since it was just a couple of months ago that I was considering selling the project and building an RV-12 ;)
Day by Day :)
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Friday, November 10, 2017
Elevator riveting has started
The elevator riveting has started. I was finally able to finish all of the part prep and had a single session of priming with P60G2. I really like the primer a lot as the preparation requires is minimal and I find that it adheres very well and leaves almost a thin plastic like coating on the parts. Obviously the protection is less than a full Epoxy primer, but the prep time is half.
I have decided to reorder the left spar and a few related pieces as the initial riveting bent the flange enough that I was uncomfortable upsizing the rivet and/or bending back in place. I would normally fix mistakes which are minor or cosmetic but absolutely no tolerance for fixing those sorts of things on a spar. The right spar went perfectly after learning my mistakes on the left one.
The elevator horn which I have heard has some alignment issues for other builders did not for me. Granted it is a tight fit as it should be however it is one of those parts that appears like it will not align but as you put the clecos on it begins to take shape. Those rivets came out perfectly.
As I work through the elevators and progress on to the tail cone I will have to start thinking about the fuselage kit order and assess the project as a whole. As many have noticed I was on the fence about moving forward for the rest of the project. I do think that building the fuse will take place and am starting to feel better about continuing on this build.
I have decided to reorder the left spar and a few related pieces as the initial riveting bent the flange enough that I was uncomfortable upsizing the rivet and/or bending back in place. I would normally fix mistakes which are minor or cosmetic but absolutely no tolerance for fixing those sorts of things on a spar. The right spar went perfectly after learning my mistakes on the left one.
The elevator horn which I have heard has some alignment issues for other builders did not for me. Granted it is a tight fit as it should be however it is one of those parts that appears like it will not align but as you put the clecos on it begins to take shape. Those rivets came out perfectly.
As I work through the elevators and progress on to the tail cone I will have to start thinking about the fuselage kit order and assess the project as a whole. As many have noticed I was on the fence about moving forward for the rest of the project. I do think that building the fuse will take place and am starting to feel better about continuing on this build.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Still here
First, thanks for all the kind comments from various folks who were either interested in the project itself or just curious why I was stopping.
The project is still here, I have not sold it. I had a couple folks who were interested but the interest was low mostly I think due to my lack of marketing.
My current thought it to continue slowly with the project to see how things progress. Family, work, owning another aircraft, and questioning my mission all play into the decision.
I will post back here when I resume. When we last left our hero he was working on the elevators looking at a mountain of deburring after the first test assembly.
Stay tuned :)
The project is still here, I have not sold it. I had a couple folks who were interested but the interest was low mostly I think due to my lack of marketing.
My current thought it to continue slowly with the project to see how things progress. Family, work, owning another aircraft, and questioning my mission all play into the decision.
I will post back here when I resume. When we last left our hero he was working on the elevators looking at a mountain of deburring after the first test assembly.
Stay tuned :)
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Crossroads
Some may have noticed that I have put the project up for sale on VAF.
Suffice it to say that my mission has changed a bit, and I think that it would be better to sell the project and have someone else complete it.
I have spared no expense with regards to making sure the build was safe and correct, so anyone purchasing will certainly be saving themselves around 580 hours of labor which is what I am up to at this point.
If this does not sell, I will certainly consider finishing it in the future, however my preferred path right now is to sell.
While not the only factor my advice to future builders is to consider how you actually see yourself using the aircraft in the future WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COMPLETE IT rather than an imagined mission that exists right now. I could absolutely fly the 14 in the future and it would satisfy what I currently do with my aircraft and more however it is overkill for how I actually fly these days. Something more economical like an RV-12 or just continuing with a shared ownership would also work.
The listing is :
For sale:
Wings:
Complete except tips still need to be finished
Tanks leak checked - no leaks and no access panels needed
Control surfaces are straight
Wiring harnesses installed, extra wires for Pitot Heat
Gretz Pitot Tube Mount installed
Safeair Pitot, AOA, Static lines - have the remainder of the fittings for going to the panel
Tail Kit:
Vertical stabilizer complete
Rudder Complete
Elevators partially complete - Can finish for you or you can take it from where I stopped
Remainder of kit is untouched.
All hardware provided, will also throw in the specialty RV-14 tools which are needed for the remainder of the tail (special bucking bar, modified rivet dies etc).
Photos taken throughout the build, some videos as well
Good build quality, inspected by an EAA tech advisor report can be provided, very small areas which I was planning on improving during the painting phase
Used Sherwin Williams primer on inside surfaces as well as SEM
Vans price $12,140 (as of today)
Asking $8000 - like getting a free tail kit plus most of the labor completed on your wings,
Local pickup preferred - Located on Cape Cod, MA near KCQX.
Suffice it to say that my mission has changed a bit, and I think that it would be better to sell the project and have someone else complete it.
I have spared no expense with regards to making sure the build was safe and correct, so anyone purchasing will certainly be saving themselves around 580 hours of labor which is what I am up to at this point.
If this does not sell, I will certainly consider finishing it in the future, however my preferred path right now is to sell.
While not the only factor my advice to future builders is to consider how you actually see yourself using the aircraft in the future WHEN YOU ACTUALLY COMPLETE IT rather than an imagined mission that exists right now. I could absolutely fly the 14 in the future and it would satisfy what I currently do with my aircraft and more however it is overkill for how I actually fly these days. Something more economical like an RV-12 or just continuing with a shared ownership would also work.
The listing is :
For sale:
Wings:
Complete except tips still need to be finished
Tanks leak checked - no leaks and no access panels needed
Control surfaces are straight
Wiring harnesses installed, extra wires for Pitot Heat
Gretz Pitot Tube Mount installed
Safeair Pitot, AOA, Static lines - have the remainder of the fittings for going to the panel
Tail Kit:
Vertical stabilizer complete
Rudder Complete
Elevators partially complete - Can finish for you or you can take it from where I stopped
Remainder of kit is untouched.
All hardware provided, will also throw in the specialty RV-14 tools which are needed for the remainder of the tail (special bucking bar, modified rivet dies etc).
Photos taken throughout the build, some videos as well
Good build quality, inspected by an EAA tech advisor report can be provided, very small areas which I was planning on improving during the painting phase
Used Sherwin Williams primer on inside surfaces as well as SEM
Vans price $12,140 (as of today)
Asking $8000 - like getting a free tail kit plus most of the labor completed on your wings,
Local pickup preferred - Located on Cape Cod, MA near KCQX.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Spring Update 2017
I am still here, plugging away!
Since the last update, I have finished the Horizontal Stabilizer, as well as the Rudder.
The rudder rolled leading edge came out less than perfect however I do believe it is acceptable. I will leave it alone, perhaps down the line I will build another rudder, however the rest of it is fine. The trailing edge also I believe is acceptable and more importantly straight.
I have started building the elevators. I am currently staring at the dreaded trim tab and also the bending of the tabs on the elevator skins themselves. It is disappointing that Van's was able to bend the tabs on the trim tabs however leaves that up to the builder on the much more expensive elevator skin. Since they have the technology I would rather pay the $1 more that it would cost for them to do the bend. Countless builders screw that step up and end up reordering elevator skins.
Baby steps towards a finished airframe.
Since the last update, I have finished the Horizontal Stabilizer, as well as the Rudder.
The rudder rolled leading edge came out less than perfect however I do believe it is acceptable. I will leave it alone, perhaps down the line I will build another rudder, however the rest of it is fine. The trailing edge also I believe is acceptable and more importantly straight.
I have started building the elevators. I am currently staring at the dreaded trim tab and also the bending of the tabs on the elevator skins themselves. It is disappointing that Van's was able to bend the tabs on the trim tabs however leaves that up to the builder on the much more expensive elevator skin. Since they have the technology I would rather pay the $1 more that it would cost for them to do the bend. Countless builders screw that step up and end up reordering elevator skins.
Baby steps towards a finished airframe.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Rudder and project update
Vertical stabilizer is complete, there is not much to say there, that is a very simple piece to build. One comment for those who have any issues riveting the brackets on the spar, you will find that if you rivet them using the C-Frame you will have better success as they do like to lean over when you are riveting on to the steel brackets. Just take a look at this video for more details.
I have just about completed the Rudder. It is quite straightforward in it's construction.
Once you rivet the stiffeners on, you then "zip up" the two skins which hold together via shear clips that are pop riveted together. I am quite pleased so far by the way it is turning out.
The counterweight is another new area for me. I created a female dimple die using a wood block, and used the screw and a nut to enlarge the dimple to final size as I did not have the correct dimple die. I did start the dimple with a dimple die of slightly smaller size that I did have on hand. After removing a small amount of material from the weight itself, I was able to slide the weight into position among the rivets (you final install the weight after riveting on the tray to the skin. I then tightly torqued the weight down using the recommended hardware and also applied some blue Loctite.
The only remaining tasks which I will complete over the next day or two are the trailing edge and the leading edge, arguably the most difficult parts of the rudder itself. Trailing edge I have covered, the leading edge I have not done in years since an old practice kit so hopefully that goes well. I will start the bend with a 1" PVC pipe and finish by hand.
I visited a fellow builder's project down in Falmouth, MA as he was kind enough to allow a couple of my replacement parts to accompany his quickbuild from the factory so I could save the shipping. He had a beautiful shop attached to his home (a dream situation), and a brand new quickbuild 14A. I am glad I am building every part on my own, but I will have to say it would be nice to just have it done like that!!! It's just money right?
I have just about completed the Rudder. It is quite straightforward in it's construction.
Once you rivet the stiffeners on, you then "zip up" the two skins which hold together via shear clips that are pop riveted together. I am quite pleased so far by the way it is turning out.
The counterweight is another new area for me. I created a female dimple die using a wood block, and used the screw and a nut to enlarge the dimple to final size as I did not have the correct dimple die. I did start the dimple with a dimple die of slightly smaller size that I did have on hand. After removing a small amount of material from the weight itself, I was able to slide the weight into position among the rivets (you final install the weight after riveting on the tray to the skin. I then tightly torqued the weight down using the recommended hardware and also applied some blue Loctite.
The only remaining tasks which I will complete over the next day or two are the trailing edge and the leading edge, arguably the most difficult parts of the rudder itself. Trailing edge I have covered, the leading edge I have not done in years since an old practice kit so hopefully that goes well. I will start the bend with a 1" PVC pipe and finish by hand.
I visited a fellow builder's project down in Falmouth, MA as he was kind enough to allow a couple of my replacement parts to accompany his quickbuild from the factory so I could save the shipping. He had a beautiful shop attached to his home (a dream situation), and a brand new quickbuild 14A. I am glad I am building every part on my own, but I will have to say it would be nice to just have it done like that!!! It's just money right?
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