Sam Buchanan's RV6

The "Finish" Kit

sam-3.jpg (12849 bytes)

 

Page One
Page Two
Page Three

Firewall Forward

Panel Page

 

10/26/98; 1.75; made first trim of canopy (gulp).

finish10.jpg (35607 bytes)

Trim lines are covered with masking tape and support boards have been added to sides of workbench. Not visible is builder standing around trying to come up with more excuses for putting this off one more day ("I really don't wanna do this!"). Also waiting for temperature to warm well past 70 degrees.

 

finish12.jpg (38085 bytes)

 

Cutting the plexi is nasty! The chips sting any exposed skin and make a mess in general.

 

 

 

 

 

finish13.jpg (28401 bytes)

 

After a couple of initial trims, it appears we are on our way to getting a canopy that will fit....

 

 

 

10/27/98; 5.5 hrs; trimmed rear top fuse skin; more trimming of canopy; cut canopy in two; dressed edges of canopy and window.

 

finish14.jpg (26753 bytes)

 

The canopy skin was joggled with the hand seamers to accept the canopy without having to slot the skin.

 

 

 

 

 

finish15.jpg (27025 bytes)

 

I extended the lower aft corner of the baggage window as shown. I think it improves on the lines of the fuse over the original curved window.

 

 

10/28/98; 2.75 hrs; more fussing with the canopy.

10/29/98; 5.25 hrs; more trimming on the canopy; drilled canopy to frame; countersunk and deburred all holes.

 

finish16.jpg (23285 bytes)

 

Little clips were attached to the canopy skin to hold the front edge of the canopy in place.

 

 

 

 

finish17.jpg (28874 bytes)

All drilling complete except for perimetry of window. I had intended to add a "targa strip" to cover the joint between the canopy and window; However, the joint looks pretty good so I may omit the strip.

Canopy has a slight gray tint.

 

10/31/98; 5.0 hrs; painted interior of plane. I used Sherwin Williams self-etching primer, and followed it with Rustoleum "Smoke Gray". The Rustoleum was thinned 30% with mineral spirits and shot with a touch-up gun. The control sticks, flap handle, rudder/brake pedals, and canopy latch was painted with Rustoleum "Charcoal Gray" aerosol after being primed with Rustoleum gray auto primer. The two-toned gray finish really looks sharp! Some folks have the opinion that the Rustoleum is not as scratch-resistant as epoxy, but I like being able to get touch-up paint at any Wal-Mart....

11/2/98; 4.75 hrs; installed pedals, flap handle, canopy latch; attached canopy to frame.

11/3/98; 2.5 hrs; riveted side skins to canopy; fabricated handhold for canopy; installed static air system; installed flap handle stop.

 

finish19.jpg (29892 bytes)

Detail showing plumbing for static air ports (Van's kit). The ports are simply pop rivets with the mandrel removed. Save one of the broken-off mandrels to use as a punch to remove the imbedded portion of the mandrel. A few passes of the ScotchBrite wheel on the interior end of the popped rivet will make it easier to remove the mandrel.

 

 

finish18.jpg (22254 bytes)

I added a stop to the end of the flap rachet to prevent the possibility of pulling the handle off the rachet.

 

 

 

 

 

11/4/98; 2.0 hrs; fabricated rivet strips for window; painted inside of aft fuse skin; painted rivet strips.

11/6/98; 2.75 hrs; completed riveting aft fuse skin; installed window.

11/8/98; 1.75 hrs; messing around with canopy, trying to get it to fit better; fabricated guide for canopy (this is to prevent it from striking the seatback when being closed).

 

finish20.jpg (30996 bytes)

 

Update (3/12/99): After working with the guides for awhile, I decided that their design lended too much possiblility to cracking the canopy if it ever slammed shut at the wrong angle. This is because the guides bear against the side skirts as the canopy closes. A really hard slam might force the skirts against the plexi so hard that it would break.

 

finsh131.jpg (31140 bytes)

Here is the second version of the guides. These guides hit the latch brackets as the canopy decends instead of the skirts. I don't know how well the aluminum angle will wear, but time will tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

finsh138.jpg (30615 bytes)

 

Since the nut holding the upper bolt is very hard to reach, I fastened a platenut to a strip of 0.062" scrap that could be inserted into the hole on the back of the canopy bow. There is no way to get a wrench into the access hole for the upper bolt. The nut strip is allowed to rotate and lock into position so the bolt can be tightened.

 

 

 

 

 

11/16/98; 2.0 hrs; more messing around with the canopy....sigh.......; fabricated guide for left side, completed riveting window to frame and skin.

11/21/98; 2.0 hrs; installed canopy latch lugs. Canopy now pretty much done except for fiberglassing leading edge of bubble.

 

finish21.jpg (39767 bytes)

 

finish23.jpg (32367 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

11/24/98; 2.0 hrs; installed rudder cables and tailwheel springs.

 

finish24.jpg (26608 bytes)

11/25/98; 1.5 hrs; installed brake lines and reservoir.

I didn't want to have the tailwheel chain clip directly in the rudder horn. If the hole elongated, the horn would be very difficult to replace. I make fittings from 4130 scrap to carry the chain clip. These fittings will be easy and inexpensive to replace.

 

 

Update: I removed the 4130 straps and replaced them with eyebolts. Either method should be sufficient to reduce wear on the rudder horn.

 


Back to Finish Kit, page one

Forward to Finish Kit, page three

Back to RV6 Home Page

 

Please submit all questions and comments to sbuc@hiwaay.net

 

 


Table of Contents
 


RV6 Home

Who is Sam? 
The Hangar 

Getting Ready to Build 
     Odd 'n Ends 

Building the Tail 
     Horz. Stab Log 
     Vert. Stab Log 
     Rudder Log 
     Elevator Log 
     Uh-Ohs 

Building the Wings
     Wing Spars
     Wing Assembly
  Flaps
  Ailerons
  Fuel Tanks

Building the Fuselage

The Finish Kit


Links 


  Flight of  Rediscovery 

  The Beat Goes On 

 
The RV Journal
Front Page 

Talk to Sam

 

Van's Aircraft