I completed a few minor wing tasks today including tapping the tie down bracket, locating and drilling the hole for the tie down ring, match drilling and dimpling the inspection access plates, and fabricating the leading edge to tank joint splice plate.
Locating and drilling the hole for the tie down ring took a little time. I was following the old adage, measure twice and drill once. In this case, I measured and triple checked before drilling the finished hole. The pilot hole drilled by Van's was very close but it was necessary to relocate the center slightly. Striking two lines from the bottom skin to the center of the tie down bracket works quite well.
While the bottom skins were still in place, I decided to match drill the three access plates and get them dimpled (watch out, the holes around the plate are to be drilled and dimpled for #8 screws while the four screws across the leading edge are #6). I plan to go ahead and install the platenuts on the bottom skins when they are removed for dimpling.
I also began finishing the joint splice plate which attaches the leading edge assembly to the tank. All the holes were dimpled and the platenut rivet attach holes were drilled. The platenuts were all dimpled and the splice plate was primed. In my next session, the platenuts will be riveted in place and the plate will be ready for attachment to the leading edge assembly.
