Monthly Archives: May 2008

Began constructing the Rudder skeleton tonight.  Got the spar, ribs, braces, etc riveted in.  Also got the counterweight drilled, countersunk, the rib dimpled, and installed today.  Since everybody seems to post a picture of their counterweight, I’ll do the same!

After getting the official word from Vans on my edge distance issue, we are good to go. They said build on, the material is thick enough to maintain strength! So over the last couple of days I have spend very … Continue reading →

After making the repair on the R-710, looking at the part after clecoing in place, I am concerned about edge distance for the affected area.  The plans are calling for AN426AD3-4′s which require a 0.156″ edge distance.  In the spot … Continue reading →

Well here is my repair work from a solution a fellow builder gave me… I’m gonna roll with this and build on!

While trimming the R-710 I was cutting away the hatched area per the plans using my straight snips and made the mistake of closing them all the way and cutting all the way to the tip, which distorted and somewhat … Continue reading →

More work on the rudder today… feels good to be back at it, sweating all evening in the garage.   Today I finished dimpling the skins, and riveted the stiffiners to the skins.  Then construction of the skeleton began, which … Continue reading →

The replacement skins from Vans showed up today.  Packaged very nicely, no damage what-so-ever.  Not even a dent in the box.  Way to go FedEX!  Tonight I got back to work on the rudder… Match drilled the stiffiners and skins, … Continue reading →

Sitting at idle for now, waiting on replacement rudder skins from Vans.  The original ones sent with the kit had a dent right in the bend of the flange for the leading edge which was incurred during shipping.  Vans was … Continue reading →

On to the next part of the kit… Now its time to build something to attach to what I’ve already built.   Today was simple… Vans sends you a bunch of “sticks” of aluminum angle in which you must make … Continue reading →