From the Maplewoods workshop: Steve's RV7 project: Finishing baffles

The Mission:

I am building an airplane. I really can't tell you how weird it sounds to me to hear those words in my head as I type. I am keeping this blog as an adjunct to my written log, which is required to comply with FAA requirements for Experimental Aircraft construction. My son Doug is my partner in this project. There are two goals: to build the best, safest, and yes, COOLEST, airplane we can, and to allow Doug to acquire some truly awesome experiences, not to mention building skills. Thanks for viewing.

How to use this blog

The most current post is displayed on this opening page. To access the older posts, click on the "Blog Archive" on the right hand side. The drop down menu is arranged by the month and lists the posts, by title and by date posted, in reverse chronological order.

I will arrange the hypertext links to other websites I find interesting better some day, but they are at the bottom.

If you navigate to my first post, there is a link to my luthiery pages. I miss working with wood. Aluminum is nice, but it's boring. Give me a highly figured maple any day!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Finishing baffles

I didn't watch the Super Bowl. The weather was too nice, and I figured I would take advantage. I put a coat of white primer on the baffles. My thinking was I want to know if there are any fluid leaks and white is going to show this faster than any other color. Dirt I can abide.

After that, I fabricated and installed the tie rods that pull the baffles together under the cylinders. Unfortunately, I don't have good photos of this

I installed the oil cooler, but not until overbuilding the supports for it, as other websites suggest. The baffle seals are fit, but I'm saving installing them until Doug finishes his homework and gets out to the hangar, 'cuz he loves installing things that require the pneumatic rivet gun.

Also, I re-did the bracket that affixes the baffles at the aft top of the engine. I didn't like the factory bracket-there was too much tension to line the holes up.