Now that the flap motor and housing are complete, the next step is to install the landing gear mounts. I worked on the left mount today. It was a challenge getting it in place. I had to enlarge the hole in the floor, trim the end of the outboard floor stiffener, and remove one of the nutplates on the upper flange of the F704 bulkhead. The hardest thing was the floor stiffener. It would have been easier if the plans indicated the outboard stiffeners needed about an 1/8" between the end and the the F704 bulkhead to allow the gear mounts to slip in. I used a cutoff wheel in the dremel to carefully trim the stiffener and then filed the end smooth. With all of these adjustments, I was finally able to slip the left gear mount in place. One other thing that stood out once the gear was in place was that another rivet was missing from the center section. This should have been set at the factory. I'll have to use a bolt instead. I also discovered that the -12 bolts were too short. I'll need -13 bolts for the gear mounts. Time to place an order with Aircraft Spruce.
