I didn't have much time to work in the shop today but did have time to get the bottom skin installed on the tailcone. The skin is sandwiched between the mid-fuselage skins and the F-807 bulkhead, the aft side skins and lower longerons, and then overlaps the aft bottom skin. Getting this rather large formed skin in place and positioned properly, especially squeezed between the mid-fuselage skins and the F-807 bulkhead, was easier than expected but I needed some help from Connie.
I began by removing the appropriate clecos including most of the ones holding the aft side skins to the lower longerons (they all have to come out to get the skin into final position). Next, I attached a support sling around the back end of the fuselage to hold the bottom skin within a few inches of its final position. Then I began sliding the left forward corner in between the skins and bulkhead and while Connie steadied it, I moved to the right side and did the same. It was a careful process of wiggling, pushing, and lifting the skin into place being sure it was sandwiched and overlapped where appropriate. When the holes began to line up I added clecos.
Clecoing was relatively easy except at the rounded portion of the bulkheads. As the skin comes up into place the bulkheads want to deform a bit and it makes matching the pilot holes a little challenging. I have found a long slim awl works best to align the holes in the skin with the bulkheads. Gently pull them into position and cleco. I will finish up with the bulkhead clecoing tomorrow.
