While I’m waiting for the replacement engine mount attach bracket I proceeded with initial assembly of the forward fuselage. I’m finding it helpful now to assemble a bit beyond each of the riveting sections in the plans as it helps… Read More »Front Cabin Assembly
I clecoed and bolted up the next set of parts. The holes here were mostly final sized already. I bolted the control column mounts into place and match drilled the holes. This took some blocking to support in the drill… Read More »Forward Fuselage Bulkhead Subassemblies
The control column mounts require drilling and trimming. I taped off the bearings to keep shavings out. I marked the holes with a punch, drilled with a guide bit, drilled to #13, then reamed to 3/16″. I then marked the… Read More »Control Column Mounts
I feel like I’m all over the place in the plans as I wait for others parts, tools etc. I had previously primed the first set of forward fuselage parts so I started riveting those to keep moving forward. I… Read More »Forward Fuselage Seat Brackets
My backordered forward center section bulkhead arrived last week so I started on it today. This is where the fuselage kit would normally begin. The first step is cutting some stiffener angles to size that are then match drilled the… Read More »Forward Center Section Bulkhead
I started riveting the firewall yesterday but I noticed a problem before getting too far. The WD-1002-R-PC upper firewall bracket does not align well with the F-1004G-L rivet line. I clecoed the F-1040-R side channel into place to check the… Read More »Firewall Riveting
I completed the small task of installing the extensions for the flap actuator. This is easier to do now before the bottom skins are riveted into place. I riveted the nutplates to the extensions with the pneumatic squeezer. I then… Read More »Flap Actuator Extensions Installed
Another batch of parts primed and ready for riveting. This includes all of the firewall parts and few extra from the next section of the plans. Oh, and my forward center section bulkhead arrived today (had been backordered for a… Read More »Firewall Parts Primed
I ordered two Airward tunnel access panels to install into the forward fuselage tunnel. As other builders have noted, this simplifies access to the fuel filter and fuel lines during inspections. I could have fashioned my own panels but I… Read More »Tunnel Access Panels
I continued to the end of the firewall section today to get everything ready for priming. I also jumped ahead to prep the initial parts for the forward fuselage as there is a batch of parts in that section that… Read More »Firewall Parts Ready for Priming
