Brief Description: Work on Pitot tubing, Brackets & Fwd Skin Rib.
Accomplished a lot today! Routed a string through the Tailcone Assembly for the stabilator control cable. Also routed the WH-P30 Pitch/Trim Wire through the Assembly and tie wrapped per instructions. Installed the Static Air System. As noted in builders' forums, it is difficult to remove the mandrel from the SD-42-BSLF pop rivets after they are set. I tried using a pin punch without success, but I did not apply a lot of force, was afraid to bend the skin. I ended up enlarging the hollow shop head slightly with a needle nose plier and was then able to easily punch the mandrel out. Filed the sharp edges of the shop heads. It was also difficult to connect the 1/4 OD Polypropylene tube to the Plastic Tee after the 1/8 plastic tube is installed. Other builders have soaked the Poly tube in hot water to soften it before installation, and this work for me too. Sealed the connections and joints with RTV sealant.
Separated the Snap Bushing Brackets, match drilled, deburred and then primed them. Final drilled and dimpled the holes in the Fwd Skin Rib (F-12106). Also dimpled the K-1100-8 nutplates. Primed the Rib and the Upper Skins (F-1279). After the primer was dry, riveted the Brackets to the Upper Skins and clecoed the Skins to the Tailcone Assembly. It's been a long day and that's enough work for today.
