August 20th Update - Mid Fuse Fwd Structure

Since last post, most time spent prepping right side skin, completing prep of parts for right side of fuse, prime & paint, and finally installation/riveting of the right side structure.   As of Monday AM, 21st August, most riveting is complete on this side - just need to finalize some of the parts (center section channel cover, arm rest, random rivets) before moving on to next steps.  Finally I can see the end of section 29...

August 12th update, Mid Fuse Fwd Structure

Completed all riveting of left side of fuselage, including cowl hinge.  This area sealed with 3M fire sealant and previously described.  

On to the right side of the fuselage....

(Section 29 is long, lots of parts, lots of riveting)

August 10th Update - Fwd Mid Fuse Structure

Lots done since last post.  Continued prepping of parts to install left side skin, including skin edge prep (includes radiusing of parts of upper edge, deburring, dimpling, scuffing, priming).  Masked the skin for painting and completed painting.

Parts that fit inside skin (stiffeners, arm rest, etc). similarly prepped for this process, and painted (hammered gray).

Riveted side plates, skin, and upper drag fittings together as well as two stiffeners called out, then mounted skin to fuselage.   Torqued upper drag fitting bolt (also torqued lower drag fitting/gear brace bolts using standard torque values in Section 5, adding residual torque from lock nuts).

Skin is now permanently attached and riveting has commenced..  Tomorrow I will seal joint where firewall, longerons and skins come together (3M fire sealant).

I figured out an easy way to paint parts when I don't want to paint the mating surface (already primed).  I mount that surface to a piece of cardboard using clecos.  (Why didn't I think of this before?)

August 7th Update - Fwd Mid Fuse Structure

Since last post, much has been done.

I started prepping parts including priming etc, for the next pages after riveting the bottom skins.  This included trimming of upper and lower longerons.

Max helped me "flip" the fuselage to the other side to get to rivets and then bucked rivets - on Saturday I finished riveting the bottom of fuselage, then put fuselage back on a table.

Fabricated blocks and completed "twist" of upper longerons.

Fabricated hinge parts to form the cowling attach points on firewall.

Completed riveting of upper and lower longerons to motor mount fittings and doublers - then painted these pieces where they will be exposed in the cockpit.

Temporarily placed longerons in place (see photos below).

Attached side skins for fitting, match drilled upper & lower longerons,  Drilled/fitted the cowl attach hinge halves to the firewall/side skins.  Removed all these parts, deburred, dimpled, etc.

July 29-30 Update FWD Mid Fuse Side Structure

With help from son in law Daxx, place fuselage on side and started riveting the bottom skins together, including the heavy duty Cherrymax rivets that hold the lower drag fittings in place.  Kathy bucked rivets and did an outstanding job.  I did use a number of blind style rivets including Cherrymax and MK-319BS in selected locations.