I agree that it's better to install nutplates after the holes are drilled
through both parts to be joined, but I have had good luck installing the
nutplates first and then drilling the screw hole in the second part later
on. There are a couple reasons for doing it that way. First, I like to use
3/32" solid rivets with a hand squeezer to secure the nutplates. With those
restrictions there are places where you have to install the nutplates to the
rib flange (or whatever) before the skin is riveted down, because you can't
get the squeezer there with the skin on, for example the left wing's tip rib
and the right wing's root rib. If I borrowed a rivet gun and bucking bar I
could do the tip rib, or use the cherry 3/32 blind rivets, but I don't like
them too much, and they're pricey. The second reason is to be able to
replace existing rivet locations with the nutplates because it can be hard
to fit them between rivets.
The technique I have used to locate the screw holes for pre-installed
nutplates is to position the part, in this case it would be the wing tip,
and mark a line around the perimeter of it on to the wing skin. Next remove
the tip and draw lines perpendicular to one you just made that intersect it
and the center of the nutplate, and extend out onto the skin 6" or so. Then
measure as carefully as possible from the perimeter line to the center of
the nutplate and mark the measurement right on the skin. Now put the tip
back on and align it with the perimeter line on the skin again, then using a
ruler, extend the perpendicular lines back onto the tip. Finally, measure
and mark the distance you marked down earlier and you have the screw
locations. It's not perfect, but If you drill the screw holes a bit oversize
it works well. I did the tail tips this way, and then used countersunk
machine screws and those thin countersunk stainless washers. I think it
makes a good installation in fiberglass because it gives a much bigger
bearing surface and it looks slick too.
Jesse
From: Ken <klehman@albedo.net>
Reply-To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: Rebel Wing Tips
Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 21:02:10 -0500
Jesse
Off topic, but if you install those nutplates now, do you have someway
of aligning and drilling the holes in the tips later? Usually you want
the tips on first, then drill, then nutplates.
Ken
Jesse Jenks wrote:
andThanks Jeff,
It looks like quite a bit of work. It looks like you put some inspection
holes out there. Are those just for accessing the flaperon hinge boltspackattach bolts? Do you have wing strobes, and if so do you have the powertheout there? I was just getting ready to install nutplates for attachingdroopwing tips, whichever ones I use, but I see from your pictures that themountedtip becomes a semi-permanent part of the wing, so nutplates along the rib
flange won't do any good. Maybe I'll just go with a single fuselagestrobe and forget about it.
Jesse
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