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Date:  11-9-2005
Number of Hours:  2.80
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Primed and riveted rear spars

I spent most of the night scuffing, preping and priming the rear spars and doublers. First, I scuff each part with maroon scotchbrite, then I carried all of the parts up to the garage. I used the packing paper from the wing kit to cover the dormant Spitfire and laid all the parts on top. Next, I opened the garage doors to help with the noxious vapors.After donning my respirator, I gloved up and used the Dupont paint prep to clean the parts. I am sure it is just mineral spirits. Then, I shot a very light coat of SEM self etching primer, followed 5 minutes later with a fully covering coat. When that dries (5minutes later) I turned each part over and shot the other side the same way. So, after scuffing and cleaning, priming is about a 20 minute cycle.Then, I carried all of the parts down to the basement. I kept the right and left sides seperate to aid in keeping everything straight. Also, you can ususally see the felt tip pen markings through the primer.I then followed the blueprints to cleco the spars and doublers together, putting clecoes in all the holes that will not be riveted now. Squeezing the big honking 1/8" rivets was a big job for my little pneumatic squeezer. On some rivets, it just barely made the squeeze.The last doublers on the tips gave me a little trouble. I could not tell from the plans just which holes were countersunk and in what orientation. Only now, at 4:00 am (yes, this is what I do when I can not sleep) and after looking at Dan Checkoway's web site, have I finally figured it out. I will try to finish the rear spars tomorrow. Then it is on to the glamorous job of deburring and straightening of the wing ribs.
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