Checking in to say hello

Joew · Post by **Joew** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:27 pm

I just wanted to check in and say thank-you. I have recently started on my RV-7 and am working on the empannage (still on the HS to be exact, almost ready to rivet them together). I wanted to thank-you for your comments and notes. I have learned much from lurking on the site and you guys have kept me from falling into some mistakes. Thanks.....

When you started riveting the HS, how did you hold it still? I noticed Checkoway built a jig, and several other sites have done so as well. Any suggestions? Any other hints and ideas? Thanks in advance

Joe

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:52 pm

i simply laid it on a table and reached inside of it and went..some will take a qt or gallon ziplock bag and fill it with sand to lay on it. i use this method often. for closing the hs at the spars the holding fixture ( not really a jig)works well.

btw, glad to have ya.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:30 pm

Hey Joe! Thanks for checking in!

You don't need a jig...Dan built his empennage just before the pre-punched/matched hole stuff came out, so he needed a jig.

The whole airplane is "jigless" now.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:05 am

Glad to have you on board Joe! Enjoy the build on your 7, it is a fun journey.

I just riveted mine on the table and had no problems. The matched hole stuff is great!

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:32 am

Joe, I built mine on the table, too. No problems. I do have one suggestion for you, however. You might consider building the Vertical Stab. first. The VS is easier to reach inside, and just goes together easier and quicker. It's a great place to do your first rivets. Many builders think it should have been first in the suggested "order". It's your plane, you can do it in whatever order you think. I had most of my H.S. together and was waiting for a tech. counselor inspection before closing it up, and while I was waiting for him to come over, I started on the V.S. I actually had it finished first and was wishing I had started there.

Only one man's opinion. YMMV, as they say.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:33 am

I built it on the table.

And welcome to the group

dons · Post by **dons** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:58 pm

Welcome Joe. I just built mine on the bench as well. I did use some blocks and a few clamps to hold it leading edge down a few times to make things easier for me, but I never build a jig to put it in.

Joew · Post by **Joew** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:16 pm

Sounds great to me. I'd rather keep movin forward than stop to build a jig. Thanks for the guidance. I'm about ready to start riveting the HS. Maybe before I start riveting, I'll start the VS too. So when my tech advisor comes by, he can inspect both.

Joe