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IMG_4999
First trial fit of the sternpost. Vertical is nominal from the port side. Stbd hangs out slightly. Will have to take this into account when bonding.
Date: 08/08/2012
Views: 3962
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IMG_5002
First step is to fit ribs and mark out position on port side.
Date: 08/11/2012
Views: 32123
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IMG_5025
Bonding the antenna to the back of the sternpost. Should have bought an antenna with the connector straight out so I could have put it on the back. Didn't of course, so it now has to go on the angled side. Just fits without interfering with the fin.
Date: 08/29/2012
Views: 5419
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IMG_5013
Trial fitting the ribs to port.
Date: 08/26/2012
Views: 7446
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IMG_5029
All zipped up and everything looks fine. The manual suggests bonding a piece of aluminium to the sides to ensure they are straight. With 5 min epoxy they just come right off again and because I can“t see any deviation anyway, I just dispense with them.
Date: 09/02/2012
Views: 4875
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IMG_5030
In the stirrups for the internal examination. The bottom also has to spread but how do you get the spreader out again once the sternpost is in? Here I use a thin piece of aluminium just behind the trim tab slot. It is pops out easily afterwards.
Date: 09/02/2012
Views: 10115
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IMG_5032
Clecoing the whole lot up after bonding. TIP: I have learned from the fuselage bond to really oil them well, and to take them out and reinsert them one by one well before the Araldite is hard.
Order of assembly: ribs to port, then sternpost, starboard skin last. You can easily put the araldite on the stb side of the ribs at the end, otherwise you will have it all over the place. Guaranteed.
Date: 09/03/2012
Views: 3509
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IMG_5041
Despite my confidence that the edges are straight, it turns out there is a bulge after bonding, on the stb side. Solution: heat up with hot air gun, push in and hold till cool. Perfect!
Date: 09/16/2012
Views: 4184
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IMG_5040
The joggle in the top moulding does not fit the joggle in the sternpost. My first reaction is that I must have trimmed the tail down too far, but it fits with the rudder. Trim end of cap moulding to make it fit.
Date: 09/16/2012
Views: 8181
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IMG_5072
Bonding on the fin cap. Parcel tape to catch the spills.
Date: 09/23/2012
Views: 14352
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The High Point!
Though not strictly an aviation tradition, reaching the high point of the build has to be celebrated. So I hoist a tree (ok, branch) and flag to the top. Wouter is still learning about building but he has plenty of experience with beer, so he comes to help.
Date: 10/12/2012
Views: 7671
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IMG_5105
First fit of the rudder shows hinges are not quite in line. Solution is a liquid shim- some rapid epoxy under the middle hinge.
Date: 11/03/2012
Views: 2698
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IMG_5112
Top corner of the rudder has to be ground down in order for it to turn under the sternpost.
Date: 11/11/2012
Views: 24320
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IMG_5115
Rudder corner fixed again with 2 layers of bid
Date: 11/13/2012
Views: 6814
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