Construction progress and builder's log for my Van's RV-7 project N769WB
I finished the last bottom skin riveting then riveted on the flap hinge and the nut plates for the last access panel.
The left wing is now done other than fitting the fiberglass wingtip and doing final setup of the aileron and flaps.
Britt helped me move the wing into the basement for storage. We also reorganized the basement which gave us a lot more space.
I made more progress working in the left bottom skins.
Overall things are getting easier aside from the pitot tube mount reinforcement. It had some tricky riveting. I had to redo several rivets that ended up being too short.
One more session and the left bottom wing skin riveting should be done.
I cut a notch in the conduit for the pitot heat wires then put a pull line in the conduit so I can easily get the wires in later.
After that I started riveting the outboard skin. I got about 40% of it done today. It's definitely going easier than the inboard panel but it's still hard work.
I copied some other builders and used a string tied to my tool box to hold the skin open. It was easy to just move the tool box as I slowly progressed.
I got all the usual prep work done one the left outboard bottom wing skin.
I then installed the nut plates on the two inboard access panels.
I finished the left inboard section today. I definitely got more comfortable with the process and I feel the outboard skin will go good.
I was able to do all the work solo. My snake cam that displays on the ipad came in really handy for doing this work. It was definitely a good investment.
Spent the day riveting about half of the left inboard bottom wing skin. The riveting near the root was the hardest with some very tight spaces. I also riveted one section out of sequence so I had to call in Britt with her petite hands and arms to reach in and buck some rivets.
I'm glad this hardest section of riveting is done and I did not have to use any pop rivets.
No photos today.
I got the aileron bellcrank fitted and installed along with cushion clamps to route the pitot / aoa tubes and antenna wire around the crank. I also adjusted the length of the aileron push pull tube using the Vans provided jig.
I got the inboard bottom skin edge finished, deburred, dimpled, cleaned and primed.
I started riveting at the inboard rear spar and I believe that I have gotten the hardest rivets done but it was very slow work. Riveting the bottom skins involves a lot of bending the skins back and awkward reaches with the bucking bar.
I got the flap brace riveted on. This was more tricky than I expected and I had to redo several rivets.
I also started working on mounting the aileron bellcrank.
After carefully checking and rechecking alignment (about ten times) I drilled the wing side of the flap hinge.
I also got some miscellaneous stuff done like putting in the tubes for pitot and angle of attack. I also ran the rg-400 cable for the Garmin waas gps antenna that will mount in the left wingtip.
Britt and I pulled flexible wiring conduit through that will carry lighting and pitot heat wires. I also put some rtv silicone at each rib with the conduit to help prevent chafing.
I made the required spacer for the left aileron and got it mounted with temporary nuts. I also made an alignment guide out of a 4' ruler to get the aileron in the correct neutral position.
I then attached the bottom skin and started to get the flap positioned.
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