Fred flaps 1.

Ron...see indents below...you wrote: "A few questions if you don't mind"

**How did you keep your drill and tap straight when you were tapping holes for flap pins?


I pretty much followed the diagram in the manual...I did draw a long line across the top of the flap, parallel to the spar to help sight the drill...an extra set of eyes helps...for the initial hole, I used a 12" long drill bit (1/8th, 3/16"), also to aid in sighting proper alignment,

**How many drill sizes did you use to drill the hole?


Probably started w/ a 1/8" drill bit, enlarging in increments, probably 3 or 4 not including the final, pre-tap size.

**Did you use one size tap, or three progressive taps?


I don't recall...I suspect only one, or I'd remember...

**After you had flap pins installed, how many rig, derigging of wings did it take you to get flaps working?


...not sure...I wuz able to orient fuselage cattywompus in the shop which allowed wings to be rigged, derigged at will...I spect # of times will vary w/ the exact sequence you're following...some of the work does not, of course, require rigging/derigging, though it required having the wings rigged for an extended period. Take care not to cut the flap connecting rod too short (as I did), though I solved it w/ some 4130 sleeving, loctite, and SS pop rivets.


I thought having the flap pivots in the same plane was important, so I followed the sequence shown in the attached pixs, starting w/ a very straight piece of doug fir to which I hot glued the pivots...my 12" drill bit was very handy.

**After you installed the wing fairing forward of the spar, did you do any sort of front wing skin strengthening to prevent fill cracking? like fill, then 2 BID and fill again?


No...I won't be needing any thick filling, and I think the problem you're anticipating is only applicable to trigears where some pretty heavy butts sit there will embarking/disembarking.


Fred