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Keiths Web Site
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Date: 12-7-2008
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Number of Hours: 3.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Preparation of Parts
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Now that the Empennage Kit has arrived I propose to "down tools" on the wing components, and start on the empennage. This was always the planned sequence of events, but the tail kit development was not completed until spin testing had been proven, by which time wing and fuselage kits were already shipping. Many builders have already completed the wings and are working on the fuselage. I now propose to build empennage, then wings, then fuselage as envisaged by Vans.
In fact the plans and instructions at the start of the Empennage Kit are particularly carefully worded because they have been written for a novice just like me. Hooray!
The empennage kit includes the back half of the fuselage in addition to the vertical stabiliser, rudder, tailplane, elevator (stabilitor), and anti-servo tabs.
I started by removing the blue plastic from the empennage sub-kits 2,3,4,5, and commenced deburring on those parts that do not need to be "split". Same "fishing knife sharpener" technique followed by my first use of the bench grinder. As noted on several other web-site photos, I had to remove the guards to handle the larger pieces. Safety glasses reduces the risk, but I still expect to take some skin off my fingers at some stage. I'm hoping that Santa will bring me a first-aid kit.
I discovered that holding the parts at right-angles to the wheel is asking for trouble unless they are rigid and held firmly. Parallel is the way to go.
I bought both medium and fine Scotchbrite wheels. After deburring on the coarser wheel, the fine wheel polishes the edges nicely. I'll need to do the small diameter lightening holes later. I'm awaiting a die grinder and one-inch and two-inch Scotchbrite drums. If all else fails, I have a simple manual deburring tool which seems to work well enough on these holes.
I noticed the draft from bench grinder was rather cold today, outside temp was +3. I'll need to invest in a workshop heater.
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Rear fuselage parts
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Tail parts
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More tail parts
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