Well this was the 1st really full day back out in the shop, for a LONG time and it showed. I seem to have lost the 'edge' and steps took lots longer and more mistakes alond the way. Nonetehless it was good to get back to completing the airframe. Dean Smolske was in town for a conference and came by last pm. I think I got more tips from him than he did from me, very worthwhile visit. Thanks Dean! Began by cutting the piano hinge for the cowl to firewall attachment. I needed to cal Van's because I had 2 different size hinges labled piano hinge and needed to know which to use. Turns out you use the larger (the ones' w/ 1/8" dia pins!) After clecoing matchdrilling, deburring,countersinking etc. I thought I might have a problem with interference w/ the engine mount. I was able to use the "no nose 4" in the squeezer with a piece of 3/16" steel taped to the end so as to provide an offest to the rolled part of the hinge. I was able to get all but the bottom 3 on the left and right sides where the enginge mount was just too tight and no way to get a bucking bar in there, So I put some structural pop rivets in those locations. I finished off the hinges on the top of the firewall but didn't final rivet them becasue, I want to leave the upper fwd fuse OFF of the plane as long as possible. And even though I was squeezing these I still had to drill out my fair share in order to get them flush with the outside skin. My 7.9 drill arrived today so I can plan for the install of the Main gear legs.
