RivetBangers.com

Quiet weekend here at RB! I am sure everyone is banging quietly on their own projects!

I am tinkering on my flaps before I get ready to go to the school graduation ceremony.



I deceided to do the split flap hinge design on page 88 of the RVator. It seems like a good method of hinge pin installation to me.

I saw WS this past week and he has made good progress on his -8. He is looking towards installing all the fuse internals and considering painting the interior soon.

Three weeks ago, two of my sophomores, myself and Thermos installed a new 200 Amp Service at his new reisdence. I am sure he will be itching to get back to his project once his move is complete and all the dust has settled!

What have you been working on?

CJ

Looks Great John!!

I spent most of the day yesterday at the AOPA Open House. As far as bulding is concerned Im working on assembling the elevators. Should have some pics soon.

-- John

This seems to be a busy time of year. I know over the last month we had my sons graduation and his graduation party along with over 40 invites to graduation parties, most of which we made. The graduation parties are a big thing here in small town Iowa.

It finally slowed down this weekend a little. Only one party and two weddings. My son and I got the rear spars primed on Friday night and then riveted them Sat morning before heading off to the weddings. Last night after getting back home about 9:30 we went out and washed wing ribs in prep for priming. I plan on etching them and priming them this afternoon.

Maybe I'll eve nget a photo or two.

Pluggin' away on fuel tanks. Took the last couple of days off due to other comittments (and flying with Jack in his -7 Saturday and this morning!:P ) Yes CJ, my landings were MUCH better today!!!!!!

Should be setting some ribs tonight or tomorrow...

Spent six hours behind a roto tiller yesterday. Good move on the hinge pin John.

I finally made some visual progress!

After almost a month of sanding formblocks, and figuring, and measuring, I finally started cutting some aluminum.

I cut almost half of the noseribs today and even formed a few to check out the flange size. A very good day.

and so, to celebrate I'm having a

The days work:

WHOA! We DO have it easy!!!

You are a better man than me, PK!!!

Jim, thanks for the vote of confidence! It seemed like the right thing to do!

CJ

AWESOME PK!!! Take LOTS O PICS!! I want to see more!

It's not that bad CJ. really.

It just took me a bit to figure out how best to cut the ribs to get the best results.

I ended up following the lead of some other Bearhawk builders. I built a jig and used a router to make them all identical.

I'll have video up on bearhawk949.com in a bit if anyone is interested.

You look like you're steadily plugging away on your project. I'll have to make a trip up to your place in a couple of weeks to see what you've completed since my last visit.

Absolutely!

Keep in touch!

See you soon!

CJ

CJ -
Dang!! Looking mighty fine!!

PK -
What can I say? I like your style!
I've been lurking listening to your woes with other kit planes...
and it looks likes you made the right decision!!
Like Chad said - take lotsa pics!!

Me??
I took Saturday off to take the GF & her daughter to an outdoor concert.
Daughter is 7 YO and it was her first.... we had a blast.

Today - after church - I got back to working on the leading edge.
Completed deburring skin, dimpling & priming...



... and anxiously waiting for help to seal tanks after Golden West.

Lorin D
9A Wings
(N194LD reserved)

Spent the afternoon fabricating the cross members for the andair fuel valve. It was a little tricky finding a good placement for it since the existing platenuts for the cover plate kept getting in the way of a straight shot across.

Eventually, I got it where I wanted and made the rear brace removable so you can install and remove the valve assembly if needed.

This valve was more expensive than van's stock piece, but I feel it was well worth it. The valve cannot inadvertantly be turned off without lifting the knob up. Also, the groove that the handle runs in, makes it easy to switch from one side to the other without even looking cause it stops it exactly where it needs to be. Van's valve can be rotated to any position in a complete 360.

Below is a picture of it all put together.

I've been lurking listening to your woes with other kit planes...

heh, my woes would be lessened if I would put down the KFC!

At this point I'm happy with my choice. Ask me in 5 years.. . Hopefully I'll have the same answer.

Dave, looking good. One of these days I'll have to drop by and take a look first hand. I stopped by the vendor who makes those valves at SNF. they looked sweet, and more importantly felt like they were well made.


As promised. Here are the two videos I threw together today about rib cutting and flange forming.

Rib cutting video

Flange Forming video

Papakeith, I have been a long time advocate of working aluminum with routers glad to see others are seeing the light.

Nice videos, PK!

You are really making progress there!!!

CJ

Wow, I'm so envious that you guys are making progress. My project is in pieces all over our new-to-us house. I'm hoping to start working again by the end of the month, but the list of post-moving tasks is practically endless.

On the bright side, I do have the best 200-amp service and panel in the neighborhood - all thanks to CJ and his students!

Fabulous videos, Keith! What kind of bit are you using on the router?

Once the shop is set up, I'm gonna schedule another project visit with a side trip to Blue Ribbon for BBQ

Dave

Blue Ribbon? mmmmmmmm I'm there.


It's a laminate bit. It's got the ball bearing on the bottom that rides on the template.

I have been busy working on the skeleton on my -8.

Hey John:

You haven't heard from me because I am in Dante's third ring of hell (well not that bad - Limbo then). I am still adjusting the flanges of the ribs. I thoroughly enjoyed the deburring part! Yee haaaa! Nothing like getting aluminum dust all over my workshop. I hope it doesn't mess up the TV. It's a good thing my RC radios are in cabinets.

Antony

Finished my right elevator trailing edge, after the AOPA fly-in on Saturday. Luckily, came out nice and straight.