It’s hard to believe, but today was a monumental day. After finihsing up the remaining close outs, access panels and side walls, the sheet metal portion of the build is now over!
While there is still more metal work to be done (upper fuselage/panel area still needs to be riveted into place) the kit is now at the stage where attention turns to other parts of the plan, but first.
The last two days was filled with fitting the rear passenger side walls. Drilling and placing nutplates along the longerson was a chore as the nutplate jig was hard to get into some of the tight places. But luckily the pnuematic squeezer had no time setting the rivets. I did wind up busting 3 (yes 3) countersinking bits in the longeron. The last time I countersunk the longerons I also busted some bits – just a pain in the arse. Especially at $11 each. I also reprimed the longerons after the nutplates were in place due to scratches during installation.
I then moved onto prepping the closet panels that go along the center of the baggage floor and between the rear seats. These were a quick drill, debur and dimple affair. Then I moved onto the rear passenger foot well kick plates. These are in the rear of the foot well area and will protect the flap actuator and wiring (including VHF/RG400 cable already in place). These as well were drill, deburr and dimple and then screwed into place.
The tunnel covers were next. Even though all these panels will come off for additional work, I wanted to make sure all the nutplates were good. I did find one nutplate on the pilot seat close out pan that was the wrong size and was re-drilled. I also found a few wholes that will need additional countersinking to ensure the sidewall panels fit snuggly against the frame.
While I had the instrument panel area off to fix some nutplates, I went ahead and got the oil cooler riveted into place and also riveted the replacement parking brake valve assembly riveted and screwed into place on the firewall.
For all the panels that will come on and off for the rest of the build I am using cheap hardware screws from Home Depot. The aircraft ones strip easily and are expensive. So cheap #8-32 3/4″ screws are being used and will be replaced when the panels go on for the last time.
Now attention will turn to the flight systems now. Brake Lines, Fuel Lines, Rudder Pedals, Flight Controls and then the canopy top. Things are going to get cool real quick now!
I think when I left the garage the air compressor said “Ahhhhhhhhhhh, time to rest!”
myrv10factory 