Fanny Has Wings!

Tuesday, I ScotchBrited all of the components for the vertical stabilizer (VS). After that, I cleaned all the parts with acetone then primed everything. I then realized that I forgot to dimple the necessary parts BEFORE priming. It's ok though, the primer stuck very well. I'll get into a routine eventually. So far, I really am impressed with the SEM product. After the primer was dry, I set a few rivets into the VS-803PP and VS-808PP parts. I cleco'd on the VS-410PP, -411PP and -412PP and called it a night.

One Side of the Inside of VS Skin Scuffed

Ribs & Spars & Doubler, Scuffed,
Cleaned & Ready for Primer

HOBBS Meter - 52.7 hrs

Wednesday saw me arrive home at about 10am in anxious anticipation of the arrival of my wings! Fanny (the empannage) now has wings! While I was waiting, I dimpled the parts I had forgotten to dimple before priming. The delivery came and the driver backed into my driveway and helped me unload the two crates and move them into the garage. The heavier of the two (204lbs) was 15' in length so it takes up a little of the walking area in the back of my garage. No worries. Once I get the two crates inventoried, I'll be able to take the wing spar and relocated it for storage and clear up some needed work space. I went back to work after the extended lunch and in the evening, finished the rest of the dimpling with the pneumatic squeezer as they were not reachable with the DRDT-2. After all parts were dimpled and double-checked for any forgotten holes, it was on to clecoing and riveting. After I had set a few, I realized that a few of the flush rivets at the bottom of the rear spar had not been cleanly set, leaving a few sitting proud. I finished setting the rest of the flush rivets and called it a night after 2 hours for the day and decided to drill (too late now, noise abatement) about 5 out on Thursday.

W I N G S !!! !!! WAHOOOOO!!

Finishing the Dimpling I Missed Earlier

HOBBS Meter - 54.7 hrs

Today (Thursday, July 12) I drilled the few rivets that I wasn't pleased with and reset them with no further issues. Next I was on to finish riveting the rear spar of the VS. All went well with about 2 or 3 drill-outs. They are becoming fewer and less often as time goes on! :) I finished the rear spar and moved on to the forward spar and by clecoing the ribs on and riviteng as I went. Here, you are to rivet VS-704, -705, -706 and -707 to the forward spar.

Rear Spar Completed Awaiting Installation

As I'm working in the 88° heat in the garage (it's been over 100° the last few days here in the high desert of So. Cal.), I started getting bit by what appear to be these little flying ants. I got stung a couple times as well as bitten. I called it a night here as I was going nuts with the little irritants! Boy, I kept THAT clean! I'll pick up here Saturday. Tomorrow, Friday the 13th is my wife's birthday so I'm taking her out for the day to celebrate. I may get back into the garage in the evening, depending on the little dive-bomber's activity that I experienced. Either way, finishing the assembly of the VS should go relatively quickly. I need to get to inventorying the wings! You only have 30 days to inspect and inventory for correctness, otherwise it's on you for any missing parts of incorrect issues. That's it for now. I just want to get this posted tonight. I'll upload pictures in a couple days so you have reference for some of the dialog. Take Care and Thanks for Reading!

HOBBS Meter - 56.3 hrs