After the primer dried hard overnight, I installed the step (or at least I started the installation process. First, I inserted the step weldment into the hole I fashioned in the fuselage. Then, I had to pound the plastic collar onto the end of the tube with a deadblow hammer. Next, I bolted the plastic collar to the baggage rib in the bottom of the fuselage and applied torque seal to the nuts. Torque seal is a liquid plastic that you apply to nuts once they are torqued on. The day glow orange plastic then dries to the nut and the bolt. Upon later inspection, you can see that the nut has been torqued on and, if the seal is not broken, that it is still tight. Last, I clecoed the step weldment onto the fuselage. I will have to rivet it later when I can get help bucking the rivets inside the fuselage.
Inboard portion of the step weldment with the plastic collar on the right
Torque seal on the nuts and bolts holding the plastic collar to the baggage rib