I used JB Weld to affix some brass screen material to the fuel vent openings:
After it cured, I used a scotchbrite wheel to grind away the excess, making for a nice looking fuel vent cover.
Archive for October, 2006
Finished fuel vents
Saturday, October 21st, 2006Empennage fairing
Sunday, October 15th, 2006Since I still have the tail on, I worked a bit on fitting the empennage fairing today. I had to trim it a bit at the tail end to clear the elevator horns:
Here it is with some pilot holes drilled to match the rivet holes that were left open during the empennage construction. It fits okay – acceptable, but not stellar (though you can't tell either way from this photo).
Finish kit inventory
Saturday, October 14th, 2006I spent pretty much the whole day unpacking the finish kit and inventorying the contents. If anyone is planning to come visit me and Mary anytime in the near future, we hope you enjoy the guest bedroom's new "canopy" bed. (I crack myself up)
I finally got the crate emptied out save for the bags and bags of leftover packing material. Then I spent the next couple hours breaking the crate apart (easy) and removing the zillion little staples that were left sticking out (tedious). The wood is piled up under my deck for the moment – I need to call the city and have them come haul it away.
Nothing was missing, as far as I can tell, although I did have one duplicated parts bag. Hooray, free "assorted bolts and washers", according to the invoice sheet.
I had to get yet another drawer thingy to hold all the small parts. Shown here is about 75% of the drawer capacity in my garage – not seen are at least two more 50-drawer units that have more stuff in them. There are a lot of little pieces in one of these contraptions…
Finished cockpit brake lines
Friday, October 13th, 2006The replacement brake hoses arrived from Sacramento Sky Ranch and I got them installed in the airplane. Hooray, everything fits!
Here's another photo of the passenger side. I don't know why I took this – nothing has changed on this side.
Remarkably, none of these hoses touches or rubs on any other hose when the pedals are moved back and forth. I really lucked out here.
I went ahead and torqued all the fittings in the brake system, along with the fuel vent fittings on the fuselage sides (the vent fittings on the floor need some work before I can put them in). I used a little dab of torque seal on some fittings here and there just to remind myself that I have indeed torqued them down.
I bolted the rudder pedals in for good, and riveted the rudder pedal brace to the firewall. These rivets were tough to squeeze because the parking brake valve was almost entirely in the way. Wish I'd riveted this piece on before I permanently installed the valve. Oh well, I made it work in the end.
