Work resumes on the tanks

I received the J-Channel that that I ordered from Van’s. I cut it to length with a cut-off wheel in the Dremel. Then cleaned up the edges on the Scotchbrite wheel. I measured and marked the centerline. Drilled the starter hole. Clecoed it in place and match drilled the rest of the holes, clecoing as I went.

I clecoed the baffle in place and machine countersunk the corresponding rivet holes in the tank skin.

I disassembled everything final drilled the #19 holes in the skin and then deburred them as well as the holes in the j-channel. I dimpled the J-channel with the pneumatic squeezer.

In other news… My propeller was delivered! It’ll be a while before I need it but ordered it at the same time as the engine to get a discount. The engine has a much longer lead time. Expecting it to show up mid October.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Wing Time (hours):	142.0
Total Time (hours):	353.0

Completed systems routing

Screen Shot 2019-05-27 at 10.23.29 AM

Wired the right wing for the nav, strobe, and landing lights. Also ran the wires for the autopilot servo.

In the left wing I ran the wiring for the nav, strobe, and landing lights. I also ran the wiring for the ADAHRS and the plastic line for the pitot tube. Decided to drill a couple of extra routing hole in order to mount the pitot tube outboard of the aileron bellcrank in order to avoid interference with the aileron push tube. I omitted the wire for the stall warning system since I didn’t install it in the leading edge. The Garmin system has an AOA sensor as part of the pitot system. So no need.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Wing Time (hours):	140.0
Total Time (hours):	351.0

Installed landing lights and lenses

Cut the plexiglass lens to 3/4″ larger than the opening in the wing using the Dremel with a diamond dust blade. Cut like buttah.

Covered the lens with tape to protect it. Put in in place within the wing and traced the opening onto the tape. I lined up the backing places and marked the tape with the finished cut lines. I cut to final size with the Dremel and sanded the edges smooth with a sanding drum in the drill press.

Set the lens into place and used the tape “leash” i made on the front of the lens to pull it tight against the inside of the skin. Drilled and clecoed all th holes with a #30 plexi bit.

Remove the lens from the wing and removed the tape. I countersunk the holes with 100 degree zero-flute countersink bit in the electric drill. I deburred the back side of the holes with a single turn of the same bit.

I used VHB double stick tape to secure the backing plates to the lens.

I installed the landing light onto the bracket that I had riveted into the wing in an earlier step.

I secured the lens in place with #6 stainless screws.

And then repeated the whole process for the right wing.

This completes section 17–Outboard leading edges!

Today’s Time (hours):	4.0
Wing Time (hours):	137.0
Total Time (hours):	348.0

Primed all the tank parts.

When I bought my tools I bought my tools for this project, I decided to buy a DRDT-2 dimpler. I decided not to bother with a c-frame. Until this point I have not found anything that I couldn’t do without a c-frame. Today I needed to fill the locating holes in the inboard and outboard ribs with AN470AD6-5 rivets. I don’t own any tool capable of setting those big rivets reliably. Fortunately Jared offered up his c-frame and I went to his house and got these rivets set. Thanks, man! Ended up cutting the rivets down to like a 6-3. They are not structural and they were way to long. They just plug up the machining holes in the external fuel tank ribs. The shorter rivets set perfectly with the c-frame and a heavy hammer.

I primed the exterior side of all the fuel tank parts.

I riveted the bearings for the aileron controls to the tank attach bracket.

I riveted the shims and nutplates to the tank attach brackets.

I riveted the nutplates to the aft inboard ribs. I couldn’t get a mushroom set in between the clecos to rivet these. So I used a back rivet set on the tail and a bucking bar on the factory head.

I’ve completed everything I can on the Tanks until I get the J-Channel I ordered from Van’s. On the bright side… I received the tools I need to install the landing light lenses so that will be tomorrow’s project.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Wing Time (hours):	133.0
Total Time (hours):	344.0

Work continues on Fuel Tanks

Final drilled the tank attach Z brackets and machine countersunk the nutplate attach holes. I cut the brackets apart on the band saw and cleaned up all the edges on the scotchbright wheel. I riveted the nutplates in place with the squeezer.

I machine countersunk the fuel filler flanges.

I separated the shims with snips and deburred on the scotch bright wheel. I clecoed the the shims to the tank attach brackets and trimmed the ends to be flush with the brackets with snips and cleaned up the edges on the scotchbright wheel. I final drilled all the holes in the shims and dimpled them with the squeezer. I machine countersunk all the holes in the flanges of the attach brackets.

I came up short on J-channel. Not sure whether I didn’t cut the stock I had efficiently when making up the wing stiffeners or if I missed something in inventory. Either way I don’t have anything long enough to make the two 54″ tank stiffeners. I ordered a couple more pieces from Van’s. Should be here next week some time.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Wing Time (hours):	130.0
Total Time (hours):	341.0

Prepared tank stiffeners

Dimpled the nut plate attach holes in the inboard tank ribs.

Separated the stiffeners.

Used snips to make all the cuts. Doh! Should have peeled the blue vinyl off before I cut them.

Then cleaned them up on the scotch bright wheel, scuffed the mating surfaces and dimpled.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Wing Time (hours):	127.0
Total Time (hours):	338.0

Started work on fuel tanks

Screen Shot 2019-05-21 at 9.57.47 PM

I ordered plexi bits and a zero flute countersink so that I can fabricate the landing light lenses. While I’m waiting for those to show up, I started on the tanks.

Fluted and straightened the tank ribs yesterday. Final drilled all the #40 and #30 holes in all the ribs tonight.

Located and drilled the 3/4″ hole specified in the plans.

Match drilled the rivet holes from the finger strainer flange in the inboard ribs.

Dimpled all the holes in the top and bottom flanges of all the ribs.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Wing Time (hours):	125.0
Total Time (hours):	336.0

Finished riveting the outboard leading edge to the left wing

Finished riveting the outboard leading edge to the left wing with a little help from Remy.

I set the left wing into the cradle and used the pneumatic stapler to attach the carpet suspending the outboard edge.

And that completes cradle construction.

Fluted and straightened the flanges of the tank ribs.

Today’s Time (hours):	1.0
Wing Time (hours):	123.0
Total Time (hours):	334.0

Started riveting the outboard leading edge to left wing

Clecoed the outboard leading edge assembly to the left wing assembly.

Blind riveted the leading edge ribs to the main spar.

I set the the wing upright on the workbench and riveted the leading edge skin to the lower flange of the main spar.

I need a bucking partner to get the upper flange. Hopefully Remy will be available tomorrow evening.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Wing Time (hours):	122.0
Total Time (hours):	333.0

Built wing cradle

Built wing cradles. Used (6) 10′ 2×4’s, (2) 4′ 2×2’s, glue, 3″ construction screws, and 2 strips of carpet 16″ wide by about 5 feet long.

Picked up those nice locking casters from Amazon… 4 Pack Caster Wheels Swivel Plate Stem Brake Casters On Red Polyurethane Wheels (4 inch with brake) I bought two sets. Might try putting the other set on one of the work benches. Maybe get some more for the other benches if I like it.

Today’s Time (hours):	4.0
Wing Time (hours):	120.0
Total Time (hours):	331.0