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Dave's RV-7A Builder's Log
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Date: 9-15-2013
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Number of Hours: 6.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Canopy
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After yesterday's frustration, I decided to start today with something easy…so I fixed the bandsaw. A couple of nut plates riveted to the broken bracket and it was as good as new. Then, back to the bolts. First, I super glued the washers and nuts to the spacers so that I could focus on getting everything in place without pieces falling everywhere. I also fabricated a couple of holders out of sheet aluminum that I hoped would keep everything together and give me some capability to get some leverage in the tight space between the skin and the rail.
At the outset it should be known that I could not design an airplane if my life depended on it. But after about two hours I was pretty sure I could have designed this particular assembly a lot better than it is. Super glue, tape, drift pins…and every finger on both hands…all were used at some point to try and get two nuts on two ¼” bolts. After today I will be unable to say that no curse words were used in the construction of this aircraft…but I finally got the nuts on and tightened down. There is no way they are coming back off—no matter what the builder’s manual says, they are on there to stay.
So now that I was all warmed up, I decided to fit and attach the forward brace that attaches the roll bar to the forward fuselage. A lot of plans study, some fitting and drilling, and that was done. During this process I had to reattach the forward top fuselage skin, so it is starting to look more and more complete. In fact, after the canopy is finished, I will pretty much be done with the major assembly tasks, and aside from riveting the top skins on, the sheet metal work will be almost done.
To finish things off, I started working on the sliding canopy frame. When I left the project for the day, it actually looks pretty good. All in all, a productive weekend.
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Attempt #2 to get spacers and nuts in place
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Roll bar is in and front brace fitted
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Starting on the slider
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