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Stevens Web Site
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Date: 1-3-2007
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Number of Hours: 3.50
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Fit forward side skins
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I have spent the last few days trying to get the forward side skins to fit where they are supposed to on the fuselage. I fiddled aimlessly for a few days and then got serious tonight. First, I drilled out the four forward most holes on the bottom skin (where it attaches to the firewall weldments on the bottom) and I fit AN3 (3/16") bolts. You have to crankthis joint down because mere clecoes will not hold the skin in place while you are wrestling with the other forward skins to make them fit. Then, I resumed combat with the skin. You start by drawing reference lines in the middle of the flanges for the firewall (forward) and the wing spar bulkhead (aft). Then, you line up the skins so that certain predrilled holes line up with the red reference lines. Oh, and by the way, the skin panels also need to line up with the top and bottom longerons to certain specifications. There needs to be about 1/4" of gap at the bottom (top, as jigged) of the skin and it needs to fit flush at the top longeron. As you can well imagine, once you line up one side of the skin, another side slides out of position. It was all pretty frustrating till I remembered the fuel tank assembly. When I first started clecoing it all together, I swore that it would not fit and that Vans had sent some defective skins and ribs. Well, after pushing, pulling and massaging everything, it all eventually comes together. By the end of the night, I had pulled everytning about 99% together. I believe I can wrestle the last 1% into submission when I start drilling and clecoing. I am hopeful that the rest of the skins will be a little more cooperative.
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Right side of the fuselage with the forward skin taped and clamped into (relative) position
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Left side forward skin
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Here is what you are looking for; the red reference line centered in the prepunched holes
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