July Up-date

Ok.It has been a while since I wrote anything in the blog.  So, here is some of what I have been up to.

Lots of work in the forward fuselage.  I took the lower channels off the plane and clamped them to the work bench.

I attached the bulkhead member between the lower channels and attached the rudder pedal support brackets to the forward fuselage tunnel.

Everything seems to fit OK.  When I actually mount the rudder pedals in the plane I will need to make some minor adjustments to the assembly.

I placed a milk crate on the work bench and used it as a seat to check the feel of the rudder pedals.  

I dis-assembled the pedals and placed them back in the box and up on the shelf. 

After deburing I corrosion protected the the pieces and assembled them together while the paint was wet.

After riveting on the rudder pedal support brackets, I realized I may (and did) have a difficult time riveting the forward tunnel to the lower channels. I am still working this problem out.

Here is the assembly Clecoed to the firewall.

I riveted the tunnel between the firewall and the lower firewall angle while I had it clamped to the work bench.

I have found the more I can assemble on the bench the easier it is and the results are better.

The rivets for the engine mount bracket to the lower channels was the most difficult.  I ended up making my own bucking bar in the mill to get around and under the channel.

You can see in this picture, the "wing" flap pieces of the firewall are bent at 90 degrees and slide between the lower channels and the engine brackets.

So far, this area of parts going together have been the most challenging to assemble.


Next I Clecoed and clamped the firewall and lower fuselage channels to the main spar.  I wrapped the side skins to the lower channels and clamped in place.

I had the side skins off and drilled guide holes for drilling the assemblies rivet lines when I clamped it all together.

Here is a shot of the skin clamped in place.

This I was able to complete in February and March.  I am further along then this.

I will be adding some more pictures and stuff in the near future to get caught up to where I am at.

Later,
Brian