04 SEP 07 - Assembled
DRDT-2 and Started Second Practice Project
I began the evening by assembling the DRDT-2 which I got from
planetools.com as part of my RV Builders kit. It required very little assembly
and adjustment. The action is over-center and is very quiet and smooth. It seems
to be an excellent tool.
The DRDT-2 before assembly. Very few parts to assemble. Total assembly time <
30 minutes.
DRDT-2 after assembly.
After I was done with that, I invited my wife to the shop - I mean aircraft assembly
area - for the first time to help me with another Van's practice airfoil kit. I
completed one of these at the Sportair workshop with a partner, but I took another
kit home and I figured both my wife and I could use the practice cutting, deburring,
drilling, dimpling, and riveting.
So rather than go straight to the empennage kit, we'll do this practice kit together
first. Besides that, I have an order from Aircraft Spruce on the way with my back-riveting
plate, edge roller, Prekote (uh oh, here comes the primer wars!), and some other
misc items.
The plans for the practice kit call for the stiffners to be cut out first. I tried
two different methods: the bandsaw (need to get a metal blade - the stock blade
really hacks the aluminum) and the snips (smooth cuts but tends to bend the metal
slightly). I will need to perfect my technique at both, but practice makes perfect!
The stiffners after being cut. I have deburred the top two.
I also used the Scotch-Brite wheel for the first time. It works very well at making
the edges very smooth to the touch.
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