Assembled the rear fuselage F-714 plate. The spacers fit under the plate so they can't be seen. I realized that the skin to longeron rivets need to be done at this time. I had been waiting because the turtledeck skins need to use those holes. Wait, the skins don't go down that far. I need to do them now! So they got riveted along with the F-714 plate. It's hard to describe how having this part riveted together makes the whole back end of the fuselage extremely ridgid. Now it felt solid enough to acually sit in.
I mocked up the cockpit side rails and gussets. Everything fit very nice. I thought that the side rails were not placed correctly. They would not fit after the bulkhead had been installed. Remember, these rails were drilled to the longeron after they were bent and that was way before the fuse was built. A small modification was made on the rail to match up to the pre-drilled holes. I measured each rail to the firewall and the numbers were exactly the same. I feel much better after that.
During the mock up I recognized several things that need to be taken care of before I go any further. I'm sure that I didn't miss those items from the plans. It seems that some items are assumed. Oh well, I'll do a bunch of little detail work this week to get caught up.
Finally climbed in to try it on for size. Hard to tell without cushions, rudder pedals, stick and seat backs what it will be like but I can't wait to sit in it again!!
