Status Brantel #72823

TomC · Post by **TomC** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:48 am

John,

I did my bottom skins in the wing holding jig. In my small shop area, this was the ONLY way to do this. Steve Ciha always comments on how small my shop area was. To do them on a table would not have been possible. With the wings mounted vertical, I just put my arm down inside the spar gap and held the bucking bar. I did, however, end up with significant bruising on the inside of my arm. Kind of painful but livable.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:16 am

Got the second half of the wing on the stand, skins all drilled to the ribs and spars, leading edge all drilled ribs and spar, tank all drilled ribs and spars and finally countersunk the bazillion 3/32 holes for the skin dimples where they hit the main spar. Oh! I almost forgot! I also fabricated, drilled and platenuted the tank attach brackets alla Dan C. method again. Drilled the tank to the splice strip and drilled the tank brackets to the rear baffle.

Next is the landing light cuttout and riveting the leading edge together and to the spar.

More tank sealant on order for the second tank that is quickly approaching

dons · Post by **dons** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:23 pm

Great progress!, do you not sleep

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:10 pm

dons wrote:Great progress!, do you not sleep

Thanks,

Yep. I seem to be moving forward but in some ways I feel like I am in slow motion on this thing.

I just try and keep a steady pace through the week. I try to work about 2 hours a night on Mon, Tues, Thurs, sometimes Fri. and I try to get more in on Saturdays if possible. No work on Wednesday & Sundays (church and family time). This weekend I spent all day out in the shop on Saturday which gave me a boost. I got the wing kit sometime mid October 06 but did not work on it from sometime the week before Christmas till early March 07. Lost allot of time then but it was too cold in the garage to work on it. Got to do some insulating before this next winter.

I have two small girls and a wife that thinks I spend too much time on the plane so I have to work hard and in spurts to keep her happy and to spend time with the girls. The youngest goes to bed around 8:30 each night so after that, it is stealth mode and no air riveting or any noise making is allowed.

I am also working on my Instrument rating. I try to fly at least a couple hours every two weeks but lately the weather (WIND) has been preventing this.

My goal is to get the wings finished and the fuse kit on order to be delivered sometime around mid October. Hopeful to also get my instrument ticket done late summer.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:00 am

Left wing landing light done. Time for the dimpling and then to rivet the leading edge together.

jerryb · Post by **jerryb** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:42 am

Great work. Keep the pictures coming. I'm starting on the wings this weekend and your pictures are a great help and incentive.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:16 am

Thanks,

I should get the leading edge riveted and on the spar by Friday night, starting the prep work for the second tank on Saturday. My additional sealant will arrive Monday so I hope to have another tank done by the following Saturday.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:06 am

Left (2nd) leading edge done, riveted to the spar!

All the parts to the left tank are fabed and ready for assembly. Sealant should arrive today so here we go again with the black death!

Didn't get the time to work on the plane that I wanted this weekend. Felt sick, company showed up and had to watch (babysit) the youngest daughter solo Saturday so this cut into the build time....

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:14 am

Watching your daughter solo for the first time sure sounds like one of those priceless moments to me.

I'm hoping at least one of my two son's takes up flying when he gets old enough.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:17 am

Wicked Stick wrote:Watching your daughter solo for the first time sure sounds like one of those priceless moments to me.

I'm hoping at least one of my two son's takes up flying when he gets old enough.

OOOPS!

Sorry, but she is only 2 years old.

I should have said, babysat my youngest daughter solo Saturday. HaHa. I would also love to see her solo someday

I need to be more carefull choosing words.

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:28 pm

Guess I just had flying on my mind when I read it.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:29 am

Been a few days since I posted progress reports....

Have been working on the left tank! Don't like to touch the camera when doing the sealant.

Here is the status of the 2nd (left tank) after working on it Saturday. Ready for the baffle!

Post by **Spike** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:46 am

I also had another proseal weekend. Ill be happy when I am done with this stuff.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:49 am

Finished the second tank this weekend and man does it feel good to get past that major milestone! I have told myself all along that if I can build these tanks, then I know I can build this airplane! The systems/panel don't scare me at all due to my background and the fact that I am an electrical automation engineer, I am used to a million wires and building complex control panels from scratch.

Now to start pondering the canopy and cowling.... I should learn by now that all these voodoo areas are really not that bad. The stigma associated with these areas is way over rated thus far!

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:44 am

No pics, just an update.

2nd tank is finished and pressure tested

2nd (Left) Wing skeleton debured and dimpled.

(Left) Top skins debured and dimpled ready to rivet!!!!

Almost ready to put the guts in these things and close them up!

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:59 pm

How did you get so far ahead of me - and building one wing at a time too????

Do you ever like.....sleep??

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:04 am

Thanks Will but I still think I am in slow motion.

I guess slow and steady wins the race....

I still have not figured out how to pay for the engine and avionics so I don't know what my hurry is but I guess if there is a will there is a way hu?

Riveting on top skins on the second wing today! Wish me luck!

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sat May 19, 2007 9:47 pm

Ok, goodbye old friend the wing jig!

Top skin on the second wing! Tearing down the jig!

Oh! And fuse getting ordered on Monday!

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:43 am

Looking good! I gotta say that I can't wait to get rid of these jigs myself

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:04 am

Ready to rivet the aileron brackets on!