Today I replaced some bolts that I had taken out of the rear spar to let me rivet the bottom skin on. Then I started on the steps. I had already drilled the 1-1/2" hole in the side skins and notched the F-623 ribs. I had to open the skin holes up quite a bit to allow for the weld fillet around the tube. Once that was done then I could line up the holes and drill them. In trying to get the edge of the mounting plate parallel with the baggage bulkhead, I finally hung a plumb bob from the longeron and used that to measure to the mounting plate. I had already leveled the fuselage in both directions so this worked out really well. The hardest part of this is bending the lower aft corner of the bracket to lay flat against the skin without either pushing or pulling on the skin. They are complete except for drilling one of the UMHW blocks for the bolt through the tube. I couldn't find my threaded 3/16" bit and couldn't get anything else in there to drill it.
The kit comes with AN470 rivets for the plate but I seem to remember most guys using AN426's. I'll research that a little this evening.
Reva came out for an hour or so and dimpled the aft top skins and before turning out the lights, I clecoed the rear one on. Tomorrow it's on to the baggage compartment.
