I installed the ailerons today but I couldn’t install the flaps because the bushing that goes into the mounting bracket on the wing is too wide to fit through the skins, so I will have to wait until I get the skins installed to install the flaps.
Author: olanandkate
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Flap and Aileron Gap Skins Installed
First, but pretty easy first steps on putting the bottom wing skins on, but took a bit of time to complete tonight. I got all of the skins deburred, dimpled, primed and riveted tonight that cover the gap between the wing and the flaps and ailerons. Luckily they were final sized holes so that cut about and hour to three hours off my time to cleco it in place, drill them all, remove it and deburr everything. Looking good and I plan on installing the ailerons and the one flap I have done tomorrow.
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Right Flap Complete!
It took 4 hours but I got it done! I was kind of lazily watching Airventure at the same time but I got it done none the less. It is SUPER straight just like how the ailerons were. I’ve learned that the drilling of that trailing edge is critical to get it straight. I 3D printed a guide that had the right angle so it made it very predictable and easy to get the proper angle each and every time. I also changed the way I riveted the trailing edge this time around so I had no riveting marks in the skin. I used the squeezer with a flat set for the initial squeeze and then the final squeeze I used the angled set to get it right. It turned out really good! I substituted one solid rivet on the trailing edge for a pulled rivet just because I did not have a squeezer or bucking bar that could get in there. It already had one pulled rivet there so I felt having another one would not be a big deal. Now I just have to wait for my replacement parts to come in for the left flap which I don’t know when that will be here as alot of the crew for Van’s are at Airventure this week. The parts don’t show to be backordered so I’m hoping they will get it soon. I will probably start on getting the bottom skins going so that I can attach my flaps and ailerons. I just need to get the gap skin installed so I can install my flaps and ailerons and get them out of the way. I then need to get my pitot installed where I want it so that I can start getting the skin installed on the bottom of the wing. My final step will be to get the wing tips installed and wired and the wing kit will be done!
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Fuel Tanks Mounted and Complete
The fuel tanks are now 100% complete. The left tank held all of the pressure overnight and into this morning. I’m super happy that is now resolved and I will need to put that on my annual check to see how that sealant is doing. I might also see what I can do to build another tank later down the road to replace it with before I get a paint job on the plane. I’m glad it is solved for now!
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Right Flap Riveting Started
I got all of the top portion of the riveting done. Took a bit as I didn’t measure the shank of the rivets I put in which were the 3.5 size. I did one rivet and realized it was too short. I had to pull all of the ones I had staged and put the 4 size rivets in. I got all of them set along the spar flange as well as the top rib flange. And to wrap the night up I got the bottom skin clecoed in place. I’ll have to put in rivets tomorrow and get them set. The rest will be much easier since they are all blind rivets so I just have to pull out my pop gun and pull a bunch of rivets.
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Right Tank Reinstalled & Left Tank Looks Promising
I went ahead and verified that the right tank is 100% good. It held air for 24 hours so that tank is solid and sealed. I went ahead and had my wonderful wife help me reinstall a few bolts. I’ll get the rest of them tomorrow as I get time during the work day.
I tested the left tank and I don’t see any bubbles in the areas that had leaks previously so it is looking promising. I am going to leave it overnight and hopefully tomorrow morning the balloon is roughly the same size. It will shrink as the temperatures get colder but it should stay pretty much the same size. I’ll recheck it tomorrow night around 9PM and if it is still roughly 9 3/4″ in length, we will be golden!
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Another Awesome Evoke Paintjob
I haven’t gotten out to the garage yet today, but I will when I get home from work. That said I did go look at the left tank and the balloon was still inflated by it was 1/2″ shorter. That could be from cooling of the air so I’ll see when I get home after it has been hot in the garage all day if it goes back to being 10 1/2″ but this is VERY promising on the tank I thought was good. I did not yet pressurize the other tank as I want to give it a full 24 hours to cure before I put pressure it in and see if that leak is sealed up.
That aside, I wanted to put this paint job up from Van’s Aircraft’s RV-10 so I could remember it when talking with Evoke. This design is enough of the “old school” and the new school edges that I want something similar but color wise I’m not yet 100% sure. I want something patriotic in color scheme as I love the red, white, and blue scheme. Either way, these were great ideas to get my design started.
There was also this one that I saw on Evoke’s website that has some of the flowy old school styling to it, but I also like it.
Also, this is what I am going to do for AC while we are on the ground. I don’t want to add the permanent weight of an AC unit and I think this will be just fine for while we are on the ground. It is from Aircraft Climate and it is a bit on the expensive side at $1500 so I might have to figure out a way to do this myself. You still have to add the remote to it as well which is another $100.
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Flap Frame Riveted and Tank Woes
I tested the tank this afternoon and one of the leaks is fixed and the second one is much better but still there. I don’t know what to do at this point as I thoroughly sealed that rear side of the baffle and even shoved sealant around the rib that was close to it. I went ahead and put some sealant on the outside and I’m going to have to research and see what my tech advisor says. I am re-testing the left wing tank which was good the last time I tested it just because I’m paranoid now. So far over the past few hours it has held pressure in that balloon so that is promising.
I got the frame or skeleton of the right flap completed tonight. Tomorrow I’ll start getting the skin put on it. I hope I have enough tank sealant left to do the trailing edge as it is asking for tank sealant. I might call Van’s to see if that 3M adhesive tank that they said we could use now is good for this or not.
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Right Flap Components Primed and Nose Ribs Assembled
I got all of the parts primed today and I assembled the nose ribs. I realized one of the ribs I drilled the nut plates holes when I didn’t need it. Not a huge deal but I just assumed since I was drilling the bolt holes I needed the nut plate holes. But the bolt only needs one nut plate to secure to LOL. At least I can fix that mistake on the left one since I have to redo those parts when they come in.
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Fuel Tank Repair & Priming Completed
Now I’ve not pressure tested it (boy I hope I got it all…) but I’ve sealed up the tank again, sanded the outside of the tank and primed it. Took a bit today but I got it all done. I really really hope it is sealed now. I put quite a bit of sealant along the rear baffle in those two sections of the tank so I believe I got it.
