Stjohn's RV-7

4 hours.
Spent a whole lot of time figuring out the best way to run PVC conduit down the big lightening holes in the left wing today. I’m sort of doing the Mickey Coggins method, but probably not as well or as precisely. I made a bunch of L brackets out of a forward HS spar I’d ordered a while back when I thought I’d have to replace most of my HS, then clecoed Adel (fake ones, from Ace) to them attached to the 3/4″ PVC conduit. Lots of trial and error, moving things into position with various clamps and such, testing for fit and interference with the bellcranks, figuring out which ribs to clamp them to. Once I got a combination of bracket, Adel clamp and conduit that sat well and gave maximum clearance to the bellcrank, I clamped it down and marked the position on the rib. Then I made a template out of some scrap, which made it easy to determine the bracket location on the remaining ribs. Of course, here I am, trying to hold three pieces of metal in position with the intent of putting a drill bit through them when I grasp the fact that I’m doing it the hard way, as usual. The little 1″ cleco clamps you get with the tool set are like extra hands in a situation like this, and I’m a dumbass for not realizing it earlier. Clamp on the template, clamp the bracket, drill the bracket, move on to the next one. I primed the brackets, the outside of the aileron pushrods, and the pitot mast while I was at it, then riveted on the left wing brackets. Right wing brackets are in position, I should be able to deburr, prime, and rivet them into position tomorrow. Then, I wait for a bunch of AN hardware to show up from Spruce.
Also, my package from MSC showed up. Should be a new Burraway, some spare blades, and something else I forgot about.