With my parents visiting for a few days, I had my father help me out a little. Got the right wing moved out of the cradle and clamped to my workbench and the leading edge clecoed onto the spar. Then got my dad to help me rivet on the leading edge.
As I was getting the rivets set, I identified a few rivets that I wanted to replace for one reason or another. I’m sure the rivets were ok, but it’s easy to replace in it’s current state. Also going back a few days or with a fresh set of eyes is always a good idea.
I finish up and replace the handful of rivets on the top skin, and rivet the leading edge ribs to the spar. We then shuffle the wing back into the cradle. This gets me in a much better place from a space perspective now that I shouldn’t need to remove the wings from the cradle until I get to the airport.
Circling back to finish the landing light lens. With the experience on the other lens, I’m ended up cutting this lens to the “proper” dimensions this time. (The directions are correct even if you don’t think they are. Go figure!) Still debating if I will purchase a replacement lens for the right wing or not as the other does work just fine.
With the lens cut and fitted, I go ahead and mount the landing light in the wing (off camera) and struggle to figure out how to actually screw in the landing light lens as I can’t get behind it to apply any pressure. The lightbulb moment was when I realized I needed to use tape on the lens to help provide the outward pressure so I can screw in the lens.
With the lens installed (and protected by additional tape), I then got some assistance from my wife to cleco the leading edge to the wing spar. Getting the ribs clecoed into place I then begin riveting the leading edge to the spar. As a small note on the blind rivets, not sure if it’s just my blind rivet squeezer, but I really don’t like setting blind rivets.
With all the ribs riveted to the spar, I squeeze the skin rivets then ask my wife for assistance to rivet the top of the leading edge. Easy enough and once done I get to stand back and admire my progress. Plan on getting the other wing done shortly as I approach my fuselage crate date.
Well, I’m getting to the point where I was expecting that I would be putting in my fuselage order, however I’m not quite as far along as I wanted to be. Granted, working on the wings is a slog and at points I really need a second set of hands. I was spending a number of weekends working on my IR this year, and spending time with the family. Overall it’s been pretty busy, but I’ve accomplished a lot outside of my -10 build.
So looking at what I still need to get done, and the calendar, I realized I’m running out of opportunities to prime parts. Amazingly there was a forecast day of 60+ degree weather with average humidity. Decided I needed to just knock out a few things including priming.
I revisited the rivets on the outer leading edge that my EAA tech counselor pointed out and marked which ones needed to be drilled out or just get another hit with the rivet gun. Then with the help of the wife moved the wing so I could get access to the skin followed by fixing all the “problem” rivets on the OLE.
Prep for the skin was pretty easy. Verified that all the holes were deburred, edges were deburred and used my orbital sander to give a slight scarf on the skin edge per the plans. (I was not super aggressive so I’m sure the joint will be visible. Honestly don’t think it’s a big deal). Then using a ScotchBright pad and the orbital sander, I lightly scuffed the whole skin.
Next I prep all the landing light parts. Mask off the front of the light housing to be more reflective? Not sure it’s helpful, but I like the way it looks I guess. (Sorry didn’t film the priming, but it’s just a wipedown with acetone followed by AKZO spray primer outside).
Starting out with the installation of the access panel in the left outer leading edge. I didn’t technically need to do this since I wasn’t installing a stall warning horn, however I went ahead just in case I decide later to install the stall warning. Also I figured it was something different for me and I would need to get practice installing an access panel anyway. (Also never heard anyone say “I really wish I didn’t have that access panel”).
Following the directions it’s an easy enough install. Cleco the retaining ring on the outside of the skin and drill the corner holes. Then use the step drill to open it up to the appropriate size. Cut out the hole along the outer edges of the four holes you drilled. Easy enough? Read more
Well, once again I’m a bit behind in my videos even while I am still making progress on the project. Picking up where I left off, the weather and my schedule started working together and I was able to get outside and prime a bunch of parts. With the wing spars on the cradle it was time to finish off the other OLE so I can store them out of the way. Read more