Fuselage

Vent Assemblies ( 1 hr )

Only had time to complete Step 5 in Sect 29-22 to seal w/ adhesive silicone Vents SV-10 into Ducts.  Attached mounting face with 3 machine screws.  Otherwise, spent some time considering upcoming stages in project. Ordered Fuel Lines pre-bent and assembled via Aircraft Specialty Cabin Fuel Line Kit.   Good feedback in VAF .   Determined I'd spend as much on tube bending and flair tool as buying the precision formed ready to install version from this source (and saved time and aggravation ...Sec 31-06 to -10.

Fuselage

Vent Assembly  ( 2 hrs )

Masked off wherever adhesive will be used.  Decided not to paint interior of  duct, but wait until plane painted...since not sure of exterior paint scheme.   Primed alum (NOT the actual Vent eyeball !), then painted duct and alum with semi-gloss black..  Coordinating with dash panel, and "hiding" black head screws, and highlighting Aluminum Vent.   Pending if leave edge of captured Vent as Aluminum,  or paint black too.  I like the appearance of the exposed Aluminum edge, but it will be mostly hidden.

Using my portable, collapsible paint booth,
since cooler and damp weather today.

Fuselage

Air Vent Assembly  ( 5 hrs )

Building LH & RH Air Vent Assemblies per Sect 29-21 at Steps 1-11,  and Sect 29 -22 at Steps 1-4.  Ready to prime/paint.  Then install with adhesive.  Using upgraded (optional) SV-10 aluminum Vents replacing original black plastic Vents.  These close tightly so no cold air leakage, plus "way cool" appearance.   Lot's of trimming of molded plastic and corner of Vents.

Fuselage

Lower Gear Brace   ( 3 hrs )

Completed Steps 2 & 3 at Sect 29-03 for Lower Gear Brace installation (Tri Gear build) .  Tight clearances makes getting bolts inserted a time consuming chore.   Started trying to only use wrench to advance each bolt  -  but lots and lots of 1 click at a time turns in confined area convinced me to try plan B.  Used titanium bucking bar to tap bolt heads.  Since high grade steel bolts going through aluminum Spar, no problem with thread damage, etc.

"clocked" brake line fittings.
 (After pic during install, realized one on right was not correct angle) 

spans rear web to front web on main spar

Fuselage

Lower Gear Braces ( 2 hrs )

I'm back from visiting my brother in hospital in Seattle - he's making full recovery from a heart attack last week.  Miraculously saved by CPR during a business trip there.   Since no warning or prior history, very alarming.  Thank God he's alive and gonna be A-OK !   

Began working on Lower Gear Brace installation at Sect 29-03, Step 1 (of 3). Trial fit up OK (tight !), so disassembled and primed.  Pic below shows prior driving bolts most of the way...

 

Fuselage

Tri Gear set up & Control Column adjusted ( 2 hrs )

Nancy again helped rivet:  at 4 places adjacent to Step Mounts for fuselage specific to Tri Gear per QBF-2 Step 18.   Since Fuselage was on its side, I had another "go" at adjusting washer/shims at LH Column bearings.  Found easier access to inner ear (vs reaching way over and down).  Used new feeler gage to measure gaps more accurately this time.  Determined prior efforts were too tight by a few thousandths.   Bingo !   Vans describes goal as "moves freely".   I took a video showing how readily the control assembly free falls.  Perfect.   Sorry, can't attach w/o access to my entire Google Pics album.  Need to find alternative.  [ reference:  RH spacers are 0.123" inner and 0.089" outer, LH is 0.101" outer and 0.075" inner ]

Control column assembly now falls freely...with thunk.
Sorry, video not working.

Fuselage

Tri Gear set up for QB Fuselage ( 3 hrs )

Continued setting up QB Fuselage as Tri Gear following QBF-2 instructions.   Step 12: drilled two sets of 5 #27 holes for nutplates that attach Gear Leg Fairings later. These locations had been dimpled by QB builders (instructions callout these as exceptions to not dimple).  Required flatten each, drill and deburr - so another tweak to correct Van's build.  Per Sect 26-11, completed Steps 5 and 16 at QBF-2 (Sect 26-10 and -11) for riveting on the 10 nutplates.  Nancy operated rivet gun while I held bucking bar from inside fuselage.  Great teamwork !

  Step 7 was not done by QB Builders (see pics) - so I drilled two #19 holes and one 9/16" hole via uni-bit (assume for antenna mount).  

 

Removed cover plates at RH and LH Step per QBF-2 Step 18 (ref Sect 26-10).

removed temp cover plates for Step mounting