The first challenge is to identify the correct hinge material.

Vans FAQ’s ABOUT RV KIT HINGES might help.

I wasn’t sure what length of these hinges are required later on, so I just fabricated them as per the manual but not wasting any more length than necessary.

I had made a little T-Piece ages ago when making the hinges for the trim tab, so I used this again to mark the reference line.

The fuselage side skins are attached during the hinge match drilling, so as always I prepared and deburred the skins first.

Then manual asks you to cleco the lower longerons to the side skins prior to clecoing on the side skin to the fuselage. I found that when I did this it was hard to lift the flange on the longeron doubler over the fuselage lower skin flange.

So I ended up fitting the lower longerons to the firewall first, and then attaching to the side skins once they were in position.

I used AN6-11A bolts to temporarily attach the longerons.

Match Drilling

Here is the first cleo in the pilot hole.

The manual is confusing here … Step 7 asks you to begin drilling above the pilot hole, whereas the diagram shows a lower position.

Must be a mistake … starting above the pilot hole is obviously the correct way.

I clamped and match drilled, clecoing the holes as they were drilled.

It all worked out.

Machine Coutersinking

I clamped a block of plywood to the drill press, with a hole for the countersink bit pilot.

This made it quick to slide the hinge along and position the countersink cage.

v