12 Jan 2023 - 1.8 hours

It's been a long time since I've done any work...almost a month! Holidays and life and such got in the way but one of the biggest hurdles was in my head. I still don't have the brackets which attach the rudder and elevators to the empennage so I just told myself I couldn't continue, which is ridiculous because they are tiny parts that aren't integral to structures or anything.

Anyway, I got back into it tonight and assembled the VS skeleton. It goes together really easily and is very simple. Plus it's nice that there is only one to do versus two.

I took a slight detour to debur the doubler and spars before working with them so I don't slice my hands up.I used some sanding sponges for deburring. It made the edges nice and smooth with minimal effort. It can't get all the nooks and crannies of all the ribs and everything but it did nice work on the long edges! It's the purple block on the bench here in the first picture.


I drilled the skeleton parts together to #30 being careful to avoid the bracket attachment holes. I just covered them with blue tape to make sure I didn't touch them. I ended the night by clecoing on the VS skin. Next session should be drilling the skin and then demurring all the holes.


I need to get a HVLP spray gun so I can shoot some primer and start the riveting process. I'll also need to make a spray booth and figure out the logistics of spraying what amounts to airborne cancer safely. If anyone has any tips for respirators and a paint booth, I'm all ears!