Thought I'd include a bfore and after picture of a component I had to fabricate today. This type of fabrication is pretty typical. Take aluminum stock and work it into some shape according to the prints. I started with a piece of angle like the shiny one and crafted the gray piece. The second shot shows the parts to be made around the edges and the view of the area I'm working in (from the rear). The last pic shows the airplane, same area, but from the front.
Most of the hours today was spent making little parts for the flap system. Two of the more delicate ones were making the push/pull tubes for the flaps. Dinky little things--4 7/8 long and .058" walled 5/16" dia aluminum tubing. Strong though. I had to drill out the tubing to #3 and then tap it to 1/4-28 for the rod end bearings. I rigged a jig to hold the tubes while I drilled them in the press--drilled a 2x4 section to 5/16" and then tapped the tubes vertically into the 2x4. Nice thing was that the tube was in line with the drill press since the hole for the tube was bored on the same press. Pretty easy that way.
Riveted the baggage comaprtment floor (right) in, riveted the back rest brace (horizontal) to the longerons, bulkhead and canopy deck (pic 3). I also installed the flap actuator arm.
