Scott & Tanya Card RV9A build log (N4822C)

I have cleaned up after finishing the empennage fiberglass tips. I’m not currently planning on doing full blended and filled tips like some people do. I reserve the right to change my mind later, but as it sits, all of the tips have been trimmed, fitted, filled, adjusted, etc. All of the empennage components have been put away for extended storage while the wings and fuselage are constructed. We have fully cleaned up the garage in preparation for the wing kit, due to ship in the next week.

Tomorrow I’m going to get things together to construct the wing jig. I’m planning on building both wings at the same time, so I’ll really be building two wing jigs about three feet apart (maybe a little more, depending on what the space looks like).

Today I took delivery of my new box-pan sheet metal brake. I purchased it new from a machine company in Dallas (Fabricating Machinery, Inc.). This machine is a Tennsmith U22-48. It is designed to bend a maximum of 22 gauge steel (about .029″ thick). It will do much more than this with aluminum. The max bend width is 48″. It weighs 280 pounds. I was just barely able to get it off the pallet that it was shipped on. I’ll probably leave it on the floor until I feel inspired to make a bench for it and lift it with an engine hoist.

Why did I need this to build an RV9A? I didn’t. However, I intend to fully enjoy this build process and having the right tools (albeit overkill) enhances the enjoyment for me. I am thinking about fabricating a center console out of sheet aluminum.

I have one tip for the wise: Make sure you have a very, very understanding wife before you start having stuff delivered that can’t be moved without other heavy machinery!

 

  

 

The past few days I’ve been spending just a few minutes each evening trimming the fiberglass tips just to keep myself busy. This evening I jigged up the rudder (top) tip and left it in front of the space heater to do some minor reshaping for a better fit. We’ll hopefully see positive results tomorrow after it cools.
Just burning time until the wing kit gets here.