The wings have been completed and mounted on a rack and put into storage.
The next task is the completion of the flaperons.
This is where the I made my first major mistake.
I jumped at the chance of making the four pivot attach brackets out of the AEX aluminum
extrusion because I could use my layout and machining skills.
Well, the parts came out very well and I was justifiably proud.
Keep in mind the saying "pride goeth before a fall".
The plans require a reference hole to be drilled in the upper left-hand corner. This hole will serve to locate the pivot bracket on the flaperon spar. Then the remaining seven holes are to be match drilled to the spar.
I mounted the pivot bracket, drilled the seven holes for each of the four pivot brackets and then noticed that the two rows of holes in each pivot bracket were not symmetrical with the part centerline.
As you can see, the left row of holes is closer to the centerline then the right row. The position of the heim joint that will attach to the wing is not in the center of the hole in the flaperon nose skin.
Where did I make my mistake?
I marked the location of the first reference hole and then set up a jig in my drill press to drill all four pivot brackets exactly the same.
I wasn't careful enough with the jig and introduced a 0.075" lateral position error that then transferred to all four brackets.
I will do better next time.
The design work and the manufacturing of this kit plane continues to amaze me. The fit and quality of parts used is the best it can be.
I did not want to contribute my part if it was not up the the already delivered standards from Vans.
I might have been able to make this work but the two holes don't line up like Van intended.
I ordered new AEX from Vans and will redo the parts correctly.
While waiting, I started to inventory the fuselage kit which arrived three weeks ago. I thought the wings were complex and had many parts.
Well, I ain't seen nothin' yet.
Many different kinds of squeeze rivets and pull rivets and AN nuts and bolts and washers and brackets and levers and buckets of different parts and pieces are coming out of the box.
The people who count the parts, bag them and wrap and package them are masters at their trade. If I were asked to get everything back into the box and close the lid, I would need a steamroller to make everything fit.
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