Today I mostly worked on prepping for my first run at sealant tomorrow(left tank). I laid out and drilled the return line holes for both tanks to end up in the 3rd bay from the fuselage. I ran it nice and close to the vent line (see photo 1). I think aggressively scuffed the mating surfaces on the skins and stiffners with a wire wheel with one pass as 45 degrees and another 90 degrees from that so I had a nice rough cross-hatch for the sealant to adhere to. I then cleaned everything with acetone and started laying out things I need for tomorrow.
As far as sealant, I only plan to do the stiffners and maybe the fuel drain as they all get backriveted. Next week I plan to make a stab at a rib or two and Mike Cencula will come over for those sessions to lend a hand and get some practical experience with the "black goo" before he seals his tanks. If I get ambitious I might try to do the same for the right tank, depends on how things go. I definatly feel myself putting this task off, but I can't allow myself to procrastinate(sp).
Return line is the most forward hole- Same size at vent as I plan to use 1/4 line just like the vent
Knocking the shine off of a stiffner.
All mating surfaces scuffed. The ribs go from front to back and the stiffners go on the bottom only
