February 4, 2017: final riveting top skins

With help from Max:  placed moving blankets on shop floor and moved the tail cone to this area.  Then I used built-up moving blankets and floor mat material to "bridge" all the bulheads, finally putting a foam mattress pad in place so I could crawl into the tail and back rivet the remaining rivets in upper skin.  Turned out very good.  Did some prep for Section 11.  SECTION 10 COMPLETE (FINALLY)

February 3, 2017: top center skin begin riveting

Touched up a few rivets in the tail section.  Using access from back side, riveted the aft-most section of the top center skin, using large mushroom set and bucking bar.  Looks very good, comparable cosmetically to backriveting.Shop cleanup.

January 28-February 1 2017 update: aft deck, upper side skins prep, riveting

January 28:  Finished riveting aft deck (rivets here from Vans).  Had to drill out several of these.  

January 30:  Deburred, dimpled, primed left upper side skin.  Fixed a few rivets on the aft fuselage that were a bit proud.  

January 31:  Begin prep of right upper side skin.  Cleco left upper side skin in place.

February 1:  All riveting of Left upper side skin.  Deburred, dimpled, primed right upper side skin.  Clecoed this in place and riveted.  Clecoed the upper center skin into place.  

January 21, 2016 update: aft deck riveting, top skin prep and riveting

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Productive Day: Completed riveting of the aft deck and associated parts, with a few exceptions (ran out of AN470 AD 4-7 rivets, more on the way).   Deburred, dimpled, prepped, primed the top skin.  Riveted the F 01475A doubler, F14131 Rib and F01486F stiffener to this skin.   Some prep of left top side skin.   I drilled and replaced the rivets in photos below that have smileys - had to modify my technique.  In one case I replaced with a CherryMax rivet that was slightly oversized.

January 20, 2017: visit from Vic Syracuse, wiring bundle, rudder cables

Corrected one error - the tube from left static port to t-fitting had a "low spot" - re-cut and re-positioned this tube to eliminate that.  Visit from Vic Syracuse - Vic made some suggestions on improving the appearance of a few rivets.  "good to go" on rest of the tailcone.  Completed the standard wiring and added some extra wires for future wiring needs.  I made a bundle consisting of 3-conductor 20Ga shielded cable, and  discrete 22ga wires (red/black/white) and placed this from aft bay along the right j-channel forward (see photos).   Completed placement of rudder cables and guides.

January 14-18, 2017 Update: tailcone riveting, static ports,

January 14: After some travel and a "down" weekend due to flu bug:  Continuing to do riveting on the tail cone.   Working on wiring harnesses in the aft fuselage as this progresses.

January 15:  Continuing riveting tailcone section and placing the wiring harnesses.   Nearing completion of this section.   I will have Vic Syracuse visit late this week to inspect progress.

January 16:   More riveting on the tail section.

January 17:  Placed the Cleaveland Air static ports in location normally used by Vans: I am using their EFIS kit for the static and presumably pitot as well.   Used JB Weld epoxy after drilling hole to spec (1/4") and roughing up the surfaces with Aluminum oxide sandpaper and cleaning with MEK.

January 18:  Installed Static tubing, attached to the static ports.  It looks really good!

January 1-2 2017 Update: lower side skins

January 1: Continued work on riveting structure, right lower side skin attached.   Riveted F-01412 bulkhead to aft bottom   skin and attached this skin to the remaining structure.

January 2: Extensive riveting (mostly backriveting) of skins to bulkheads.   Used MK-319-BS and MK-321-BS in some areas where reach of the called out rivets made for smaller shop heads or rivets were very hard to buck.  A few "oops" rivets needed and a couple of skin dings where rivet partner   (KLB) and I miscommunicated.

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