Brief Description: Mid Fuselage - Trim for Step Tube
I also got down the side skin, which is another idea of brother Ed, and lined it up with the outboard cargo ribs. I marked hole locations and then fluted the outboard rib to both be flat against the skin, and slightly curve in following the contour of the bottom skin.
Then I trimmed off material for the step. There are supplemental drawings that came with the step that shows its location as 8 3/4 inches from aft end of rib. It also happens to be the location where the blunt end of the tube fits flush and perpendicular to the third rib. This gives you the spot to grind off some of the flange of the outboard rib. I used my nibbler than sanded smooth.
So now I have the straps done, the outboard ribs located, and the stop clearance made so I'm ready to drill all the holes, except the trailing edge two rows.
