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Date:  3-15-2020
Number of Hours:  2.50
Manual Reference:  9225501-LOG-05.118
Brief Description:  3: Fitting the Front Deck Skin

Once the paint had dried off enough I then cleco'd the front deck skin back down and started the task of getting the edges to sit flat against the underlying fuselage skin. This wasn't such an easy task, and took me much longer than I thought.

Without any work the front deck skin doesn't sit flat aginst the fuselage skin when it's cleco'd down, so, working on one side at a time, I removed all the clecos and set about putting a bend along the edge of the skin. If bent just enough then it will hold itself hard against the fuselage skin resulting in no gap.

I started by trying to form a "roll" by using the slotted broomstick and vice grips method I used for rolling the rudder skin many moons ago. Roll skin, cleco down, check for gaps, take out cleco's, try rolling some more, cleco down.... etc, etc. Some success, but not good enough.

I then resorted to the folding pliers that I've hardly ever used, and they worked much better. I put a small fold all along the edge and this closed up the gaps nicely. A couple spots needed a tap with a hammer and block of softwood, but now the skin sits nice and flat all the way along its length.

Next I did the other side.
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Trying to roll the edges of the skin

Trying to roll the edges of the skin

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I had better success with these bending pliers

I had better success with these bending pliers

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Feeling along the edge for any slight gaps

Feeling along the edge for any slight gaps

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