Draker
Well Known Member
Fuselage builders: Here's a gocha to watch out for. Don't make the mistake I just did.
When drilling the F-772B-R&L floor stiffeners to the F-772 forward bottom skin, the plans have you to draw center lines on the angle to help you align them with the pre-punched holes in the skin. I did this and dutifully match drilled them through the skin.
I did not read the next step until it was too late. You have to drill the sides of these stiffeners to the F-601J angles on the firewall. Well, by following the 'center line' directions, I've ended up with 7/64" gaps between these parts now:
I thought about asking Van's if I could put a shim in there and build on, but then wait! These stiffeners are just plain ol' AA6-063 3/4" angles with the ends all bent up. I've got tons of that. I could just re-make a new pair and re-drill them (not along the center line this time, obviously). That's probably what I'll do.
This is a public service announcement: READ AHEAD IN THE PLANS!
When drilling the F-772B-R&L floor stiffeners to the F-772 forward bottom skin, the plans have you to draw center lines on the angle to help you align them with the pre-punched holes in the skin. I did this and dutifully match drilled them through the skin.
I did not read the next step until it was too late. You have to drill the sides of these stiffeners to the F-601J angles on the firewall. Well, by following the 'center line' directions, I've ended up with 7/64" gaps between these parts now:
I thought about asking Van's if I could put a shim in there and build on, but then wait! These stiffeners are just plain ol' AA6-063 3/4" angles with the ends all bent up. I've got tons of that. I could just re-make a new pair and re-drill them (not along the center line this time, obviously). That's probably what I'll do.
This is a public service announcement: READ AHEAD IN THE PLANS!