Great timing for this new section - Waiex B kit purchase

[OtterlyFoolish]

I just reached an agreement to purchase a second hand Waiex B quick build kit that has some work complete but not a lot. I am also getting the Aerovee Turbo engine kit, MGL 6V radio, ELT, heated seats, Prince propeller, hardware kit and a few other items. I was pretty impressed with the guy I am getting it from and his honesty regarding a few small mistakes that he had made and properly corrected but I am considering removing the skins on the ruddervators and rudder to inspect them and gain the experience of rebuilding them so that when I get to the end I can honestly say that I completed the entire plane. What do you guys think doing that idea? Is it overkill? This will be my first aircraft build as I work towards my PPL but I have built many other things over the years.

Thank you,
Marc

[Bryan Cotton]

Marc,
That seems like overkill unless the guy did an unsafe job. You can potentially make the parts a lot worse by drilling out and replacing rivets. If the rivet spins, or the drilling goes off center it is bad. Also they drill out best when you pop out the mandrel, but on the tail the structure is light so you are pounding on stuff that dents. I've drilled out a lot of rivets but only when I absolutely had to. Your time is better spent elsewhere.

[lakespookie]

I kind of agree that it would be overkill i mean a tail kit is under 2k if you really wanted to rebuild it you are probably better off just ordering a fresh tail kit instead of removing the exsisitng skins.

[OtterlyFoolish]

Thanks for the quick responses. It is what I was thinking but I guess that I wanted to hear it from people that know more on the subject than I do.

[DCASonex]

Further suggest leaving what is assembled as is if workman's ship looks good.. Even if you managed to remove all the rivets successfully (doubtful) the holes would be slightly enlarged making for a weaker assembly when re-riveted. If wanting to get a look inside, one of the cheap video bore scopes such as from Harbor Freight would work.

David A.

[OtterlyFoolish]

If wanting to get a look inside, one of the cheap video bore scopes such as from Harbor Freight would work.

Great idea and I am always looking for an excuse to buy a new tool.