Working on wing attachment brackets

My spring on my drill press broke last work session. I found a nice one on Craigslist, bought it and brought it
Home. Worked on enlarging the holes on the reinforced section of the spar to 5/32". I also aligned and drilled the holes in the attachment brackets for the right wing spar to the center section. Found out that I need washers for all bolts. The plans don't mention washers, but I understand that is general practice. Next work session will be cutting spar caps and assembling left spar section. I also
Need to cut and attach the angles for the ribs.

3 hours

Center spar section

I worked on drilling the center spar section tonight. Took the advice of another builder and drilled for 5/32 rivets. I also cut my 4130 steel wing attachment brackets and drilled the forward facing ones to use as a drill guide when clamped on the spars. I cut and filed the 1/8 shims for the center section connection points. After that I had to clamp it together and see what it looked

3 hours

More spar drilling

Finished drilling and clecoing the 2nd spar cap this afternoon. Need more clecos! I also cut the angles, flat bar, web, and 1/8" spacers for the center spar section. I measured out the hole pattern on one and drilled starter holes with a one inch pattern. Unlike the wing spar, the plans for the center section call for 3/4" spacing of the rivets. I discarded the one I drilled with 1" spacing and remade it with the 3/4" pattern. I drilled both flat bars to use as a guide when drilling the clamped together assembly.

3 hours

Drilling spar cap

Tonight I worked on drilling the other spar cap. I also clamped together the spar assembly and drilled and clecoed one side

3 hours

Drilling spar cap

Worked tonight on laying out holes on the right wing top and bottom spar caps. Got the bottom one drilled and the top one marked. Make sure to account for the 7/16" cutoff for the dihedral. The rib lines are perpendicular to the bottom spar.


2 hours

More spar work

Cut the spar web today and took the needed material off of the top spar cap to accommodate the dihedral of the wing

1 hour

Top right spar cap

I worked on the top right spar cap this
Morning. Went much faster cutting by adding candle wax to the blade to aid in cooling. Also after a couple of cuts on the first spar cap, I am much more comfortable on the band saw and able to make much more accurate cuts(lots less filing). I also made to just for the spars and cut the spar reinforcements


3 hours

First night of work

After several weeks of studying plans and setting up shop, I got started. All I accomplished tonight was the right wing bottom spar cap. I got it cut out, and sanded/ filed to final size. Slow process. Hopefully it will go faster on the next 3.


4 hours