I decided to lock myself in the shop today and do nothing but work on the plane. Everybody has managed to piss me off this week and I did not feel like dealing with anyone or anything.....Thank God for my aluminum distraction! (By the way, that everbody does NOT include my beautiful wife....she is the one constant joy in my life that I can always count on).
I started the day by doing the other access panel on the baggage bottom skins. I cut out the hole, but near the end of the cut, the saber saw blade stuck on the skin and gave it a little tear.....I was able to enlarge the hole in that area. The access cover will cover it. The cover is 3/4" larger all around the hole. Next I worked on the baggage bulkheads. I needed the drill the holes for the nylon seat belt cable guides. I also deburred and dimpled all of the areas for nutplates. Next was the removable baggage side covers. These also get a couple of nutplates. The aft seat floors were next. I had to mark the half hinges so I rivet them back in the right place after priming. The forward seat floors were next. This went smoothly. The control rod tunnel gave me another suprise. When I fabricated this, I drilled out the holes on the top cover and braces for a #8 screw instead of 1/8" rivet....so all of the holes were too big. I re-made the cover, but was able to still use the z-angle braces. I ended up riveting this together before priming. I wanted to make sure it would work. I'll prime this as one piece. I finished off the day with the seat backs. I deburred the holes in the support angles and removed the blue plastic from one of the seat backs. I will begin with this tomorrw. I
I got a lot accomplished today and I am getting closer to priming...... I hope that will happen sometime next week.
The baggage bulkheads ready to prep and prime
The control rod tunnel riveted and ready to prime.
The seat floors all dimpled and deburred and ready to prep and prime.
