Today I finished riveting the baggage area. With the fuselage turned on it’s side in the rotisserie the job was much more manageable. I took pictures, but do to the orientation of the fuselage there a bit nauseating!
Next I started working on the rudder pedals. I fabricated the spacers for the brakes, riveted together the brake pedals, the sprayed them with the urethane paint that i’m going to use on the interior tomorrow.
Today I decide to bit the bullet and build a rotisserie for the fuselage. Bending over the side of the fuselage on a step-stool trying to rivet and do systems installation inside the fuselage was destroying my back. It’s touch to climb in at this point because there’s really nothing to sit on. So I burned an afternoon building a tool instead of building the plane, which drives me crazy. However I think it’s going to be time well spent and my back is going to thank me!
Dimpled holes in baggage floor Riveted nutplates to baggage floor Began riveting the floor into the fuselage
Primed parts Fabricated/Trimmed flap bearing blocks according to plans Installed the flap bearing blocks into the plane Fabricated the seat back hinges Used layout fluid to mark pilot hole and centerline for match drilling Hinges match drilled to the baggage/seat skin
Wrapped up the fuel system install. Just need to install the fuel line supports.
Tonight I fabricated and installed the fuel lines.
Cutting aluminum tubing down to size Fabricated fitting that goes from the fuel selector to the fuel pump/filter The fuel line that goes from the fuel pump to the firewall requires compound bends and seemed a bit complicated to make. I had left over stainless steal hose and fittings from an upgrade I did on N132RD.
Tonight I started installing the fuel system
Had to cut out the fuel line brackets Fuel line brackets riveted in. Next I installed the elbows on the fuel selector valve. They are secured with 4 screws, that need to be permanently staked once installed. I used a center punch to stake the screws Next I installed the three nutplates on the bottom of the fuel selector valve Fuel selector valve installed in the plane Time to install the fuel boost pump and filter I noticed that the orientation of the safety on the fuel filter, as it came, would make it difficult to get access the first time I have to remove the safety wire to clean the filter.
Today Zak and Lindsey came over and helped Wendy and I flip the fuselage upside down. This was so I could get good access to the bucking the rivets by sitting on a stool with my head in the baggage compartment. This was much more comfortable then climbing inside. We were able to get all the rivets done for the joining process. Lindsey and Zak came back over at the end of the day and helped us flip the fuselage right side up again.
The aft tailcone clecoed to the mid/fwd fuselage. Exciting! Riveted nutplates to the baggage bulkheads Dimpled flanges in the baggage bulkheads Began riveting the baggage bulkhead into the airframe
Began riveting the top skins onto the aft fuselage, in preparation for joining the two halves. I had delayed this step several months ago so the that the aft fuselage could be stored in the basement. It wouldn't fit through the basement doorway with the top skins on. Riveted the intercostals into position Mounted the rollbar bases Trimmed the vents to size.