Fuselage Structure Dimpling
I started dimpling the various parts that share holes with the fuselage skins this evening. Another set of parts ready for priming. Next up is deburring and dimpling the skins.
I started dimpling the various parts that share holes with the fuselage skins this evening. Another set of parts ready for priming. Next up is deburring and dimpling the skins.
The firewall section is finally complete. I had five rivets left inside the firewall recess (to the rudder pedal brace) that required a swivel head rivet set. I had purchased the set a while back but never got around to… Read More »Firewall Section Complete
I had left the drilling of the longeron rudder pedal attach holes until I could take the longerons out and use the drill press. I drilled the holes with a #13 bit and reamed them to 3/16″ to keep the… Read More »Rudder Pedal Mounts
Once the the skins are removed, all of the underlying holes need countersunk. This includes the holes in the longerons, the holes in the forward fuselage channels, the holes in the side channels, and the holes in the side plates.… Read More »Fuselage Countersinking
I continued with the firewall attach brackets today and match drilled these to the upper and lower side channels. I carefully clamped the brackets to maintain edge distances. I’m glad I had caught the issue with the upper right bracket… Read More »Firewall Brackets Match Drilled
I completed the remaining match drilling of the forward fuselage skins today. There is a fair bit to do here and a lot of tricky drilling. The firewall brackets aren’t welded perfectly straight so it takes some creative clamping to… Read More »Forward Fuse Skins Match Drilled
I continued this evening by removing the side skins and deburring the edges. I then added the necessary bend to the lower left and right side clips. I separated the upper gussets on the band saw, deburred them, and clecoed… Read More »Fuse Side Skins Continued
I completed the final two skin bends over a couple of work sessions. These were trickier to bend than the mid fuse skins as the bending angles have to be clamped instead of clecoed. The curve at the rear was… Read More »Forward Fuse Skin Bends Complete
Finish kit lead times have now grown to 12 months so I decided that I had better get my order in. My wing kit will hopefully arrive around March/April 2022. If it does, I’m hoping to get the wings completed… Read More »Finish Kit Ordered! (and other decisions made)