18-09 Wing Tank Leak Test!
It’s been about 18 months since the fuel tanks were completed, so I guess the Tank Sealant has hardened by now! No more excuses, it was time to pluck up courage and test for leaks…
June 2020
23-06 & 07 Aileron Torque Tubes
Only one of the VA-162 Pushrod Ends had a slightly too big diameter to fit inside its aileron torque tube, so that one needed a bit of fettling. I used my vice clamp to secure…
23-03 to 05 Fabricating Pushrods & Aileron Bellcranks
CS-00012 Torque Tube to Bellcrank Pushrods The tubes for these pushrods are first cut to length. I hacksawed them slightly oversize & then fine tuned the length on my vertical sander. A template is provided,…
38-37 to 38 Canopy Guide Pins & Final Touches – Canopy Finished!!
Canopy Guide Pins One of the last jobs on the canopy is to install the Guide Pins. The manual suggests you rivet on the pins before drilling the holes in the canopy deck, but I…
38-32 to 33 Fans, Seal & Switch!
Canopy Microswitch A very pleasant few jobs attaching items to the canopy – and no sanding! The canopy microswitch is easily installed … but you’ll need a little spanner, or another cunning plan, to hold…
38-31 Sanding the Fairing
I hadn’t been looking forward at all to this job … but actually, it wasn’t too bad. First job was to remove the peel ply, which came off easily. Happily the resin had not soaked…
38-29 & 30 Fairing Layup
The first job is to cut out the fibreglass cloth strips. I had bought some 280g “Twill Weave” Cloth, and because of the weave style (over 2/under 2) I found it impossible to cut the…