Wings...root skins, antenna ground plane

07/20/03 - After an early start today, I was able to complete epoxy-bonding the top root skin (aft) on the left wing, finish installing the antenna ground plane and drill, rivet and epoxy-bond the bottom root skin on the right wing.  Pretty good work for only four hours!!!

Here's a couple of photos showing the bonded left wing skin:

After flipping the wing, I decided the trailing edge of the top skin was too far past the aft spar's centerline, so I trimmed it back some (Rans manual calls for 1/8" and as you can see, I had plenty):

Then, when I was getting ready to mix some more epoxy, I was dreading the thought of trying to CLEAN UP again, and I remembered I HAD LATEX GLOVES!!! from when I bought my HVLP Sprayer a while back.  YAY!!!:

So, the latex gloves and I made quick work of the top skin and then got back to the antenna ground plate, with a before shot:

and after shot - you may notice I disconnected the elevator push-pull tube - it's taped up near the bottom of the baggage compartment in the above shot and reinstalled below:

While I was working on the antenna mount, I was wondering what I could do to keep working because I needed to move the left wing in order to work on the skins for the right wing and THEN I REMEMBERED I had another set of stands!!!

I snagged a 2" X 4" from my yard barn and a 2" X 2" from the basement in order to make extensions for the stands to hold the wings and then I was able to get back to work (and sorta watch the final round of the British Open at the same time):

Getting the bottom skin located on the right wing:

Pre-drilled with a couple of clecos installed:

Drilled and clecoed:

Root end riveted:

Epoxy-bonding agent and clamps in place on trailing edge:

And on leading edge:

THEN I got to see if everything would still fit in my shop:

and thankfully, it does, although it's getting a bit tight in there now.  I don't know how some builders construct these things in a single car garage without the project MOVING INTO THEIR HOME!

Tomorrow (or when I next get the urge) I'll flip the right wing structure and bond the trailing edge of the top skin and then, I guess I'll install the long aileron push-pull tube and maybe the flap teleflex cables into the wings AND AFTER THAT I THINK I'M READY TO BEGIN FABRIC WORK...Yahoo!!!

Of course, I may be yelling a different tune after getting started, we'll see. ;^)

More updates soon...

Last Update: 07/20/2003