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

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

Riveted outboard leading edge to right wing

Completed the right outboard leading edge by riveting the landing light bracket and J channel stiffener in place.

Clecoed the outboard leading edge to the right wing.

Blind riveted the leading edge ribs to the main spar. I couldn’t get the rivet puller square to the river so I fabricated a wedge to safely pull the rivets at an angle. Thanks to Jared for the reminder on this technique. I had originally read about it in section 5 but had forgotten. I ended up using a piece of left over trailing edge wedge. I cut of a small section about half an inch long and drilled a hole in it to accommodate the tail of the blind rivet.

Riveted the leading edge skin to the bottom flange of the main spar.

Riveted the leading edge skin to the top flange of the main spar. Remy bucked for me.

I made a home depot run and picked up a bunch to 2×4’s to construct a wing cradle.

I messed up and stripped a couple of screws that I used to attach the inspection plate to the left leading edge. Need to order a screw extractor.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Wing Time (hours):	116.0
Total Time (hours):	327.0

Riveted right outboard leading edge skins to ribs

Riveted right outboard leading edge skins to ribs with some help from Remy.

Placed the leading edge back into the cradle and clecoed the J channel stiffener and the landing light bracket in place. I’ll rivet those in place tomorrow. It was getting late.

Sophie deburred the edges of all the tank ribs for me while I was in Toronto this week.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Wing Time (hours):	113.0
Total Time (hours):	324.0

Left outboard leading edge complete.

Finished riveting the skin to the ribs of the left outboard leading edge. Had to lie it flat and get Remy to buck the last three rows on the top side. Just couldn’t reach.

Riveted the landing light mounting bracket in place.

Riveted the J channel stiffener to the top of the skin.

Left outboard leading edge complete.

Clecoed the ribs into the right outboard leading edge skin and drilled the 3/8″ hole for the tie-down eye bolt.

Fabricated the spacers for the landing light brackets. Painted the spacers and mounting screws. Riveted the nut plates into the brackets and shot another coat of paint over the rivets. Assembled the landing lights into the brackets.

Today’s Time (hours):	4.0
Wing Time (hours):	111.0
Total Time (hours):	322.0

Riveted the right top wing skins

Awesome helper! Remy bucked and I shot.

We got the both skins the wing walk doublers riveted to the spars and ribs.

Clecoed the J-channel stiffeners to the skins.

Riveted the stiffeners to the skins.

Tomorrow I’ll rivet the nut plates to the inboard rib and attach the outboard aileron bracket. That will complete the top skins section.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Wing Time (hours):	86.0
Total Time (hours):	297.0

Left wing top skin complete

Remy and I riveted the J channels to the top skin.

Riveted the outboard aileron bracket to the outboard rib and rear spar. My new 7″ long rivet set came in handy here.

Left wing top skins done!

Clamped the right wing sub-structure to the benches. Clecoed the skins and wing walk doublers in place.

Today’s Time (hours):	1.5
Wing Time (hours):	83.0
Total Time (hours):	294.0

Primed everything and Riveted left top skins

Scuffed the top skins, wing walk doublers, and stiffeners and wiped everything down with acetone.

Mixed up a batch of P60G2 and shot everything with primer.

Clecoed the left skins and doublers to the left wing substructure.

Remy helped my rivet the skins to the ribs and spars. Prefers bucking and I prefer shooting so it all works out.

Finished riveting the spars and ribs and clecoed the J stiffeners in place. I’m really pleased with the result so far. The riveting went really smoothly. No dents!

Today’s Time (hours):	5.0
Wing Time (hours):	80.5
Total Time (hours):	291.5

Dimpled all the ribs and stiffeners

Got my rivet set and AD5 rivets from spruce and replaced the rivets I removed after screwing up last week. See Finished riveting everything to the rear spars… almost.

Dimpled all the ribs in both wings…

…and the J-channel stiffeners

Today’s Time (hours):	1.5
Wing Time (hours):	75.5
Total Time (hours):	286.5