Completed Forward Fuselage Lower Structure (Section 28)

Applied a bead of tank sealant to the bottom flanges of the muffler shroud sides and riveted them to the forward skins. Riveted the muffler shroud ramp to the sides and added a fillet of sealant to the bottom of each seam.

Positioned the firewall assembly on the forward skins and muffler shroud. Added sealant between the skins and firewall and around the curved area where the muffler shroud connects to the firewall and clecoed everything together. Riveted the cover bases to the skin. Riveted the curved part of the firewall to the muffler shroud sides and ramp.

Riveted the firewall angle to the firewall and skins. Dimpled the cowl places and shims and riveted them in place.

Riveted the tunnel sides to the skins and muffler shroud.

Riveted the routing bracket and fuel selector bracket in place.

Riveted and bolted to forward center section bulkhead to the tunnel side. Riveted the skins to the cover ribs.

Sealed and screwed the firewall penetration fittings to the firewall.

Fabricated and assembled the cabin heat vent assemblies. Then riveted them in place on the firewall along with their control cable brackets.

Machine countersunk the battery box attach holes and riveted it to the firewall.

Dimpled the cover panel and riveted it to the forward flanges of the cover ribs along with a gazillion nut plates.

Forward Fuselage Lower Structure… Done! On to the side structures!

Today’s Time (hours):	8.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	73.0
Total Time (hours):	527.5

Started assembling the lower skins and muffler shroud.

Dimpled the bottom skins and riveted the com antenna doublers and skin stiffeners to them. I’m only installing a single com radio so I only drilled out the right side skin for the antenna. The left side I installed some rivets to fill the starter holes. I did install the left side antenna doubler in case i want to add another radio later. I can just drill out the rivets and upsize the holes to install another antenna.

Dimpled the muffler shroud parts. Riveted the doublers and muffler hanger brackets to the shroud sides. Riveted the nut plates to the fuel pump brackets and then riveted the brackets to the shroud ramp.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	65.0
Total Time (hours):	519.5

Dimpled and countersunk firewall parts

Dimpled the firewall sides.

Machine countersunk the firewall angles to mach the dimples in the firewall. Unfortunately I got distracted and neglected to tape off the holes I wasn’t supposed to countersink in the diagonal firewall angles. So two new additions to the scrap pile. New parts ordered. Moving on to the next section in the meantime…

Before moving on to the next section, I was able to dimple the firewall top section and countersink the associated angle as well the relay doubler.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	53.5
Total Time (hours):	508.0

Primed the Firewall parts and started assembly

Primed all the aluminum firewall parts.

Machine countersunk the firewall angles and riveted on the support angle.

Dimpled the tunnel sides and riveted the nutplates to the top flanges. Dimpled the cover angle brackets and riveted nutplates to the top flanges. Then riveted the brackets to the tunnel sides. Riveted the nose gear brackets and firewall angles to the tunnel sides.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	51.5
Total Time (hours):	506.0

Riveted the baggage ribs to the aft bulkhead

Riveted the step weldment and step rib to the baggage ribs and riveted the nut plates to the weldments.

Clecoed then riveted the baggage ribs to the aft bulkhead.

Ready to rivet the skin to the baggage ribs.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	43.5
Total Time (hours):	498.0

Riveted the skin and worked on the baggage ribs and step bracket

Tammi helped me to rivet the bottom skin to the seat ribs. This was her first experience riveting. She’s a natural!

Riveted the power outlet bracket to the center ribs.

Blind riveted the seat rib angles to the seat ribs.

Dimpled and fluted the baggage ribs.

Final drilled and machine countersunk the step attach weldment. Dimpled the step attach angles and riveted them to the weldments.

Riveted the weldments to the outboard baggage ribs.

Dimpled the step attach ribs and riveted the doublers and nut plates to them.

Riveted the step attach ribs to the outboard baggage ribs.

Today’s Time (hours):	3.5
Fuselage Time (hours):	40.5
Total Time (hours):	495.0

Dimpled the bottom skin and riveted stuff to it.

Dimpled the bottom skin. Today’s word of the day: unwieldy.

Riveted the doublers and stiffeners to the bottom skin.

Dimpled the gear brace bracket and machine countersunk the gear brace bars. Riveted the gear brace assembly together and then riveted it to the skin.

Clamped the lower fuselage substructure to the bench and clecoed the skin to it. Ready for riveting.

Today’s Time (hours):	6.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	37.0
Total Time (hours):	491.5

Assembly continues

Fluted the outboard seat and baggage ribs to mach the curve of the bottom skin. Riveted nut plates to the seat ribs.

Bolted and riveted the seat ribs to the bulkhead assembly.

Riveted the seatbelt lugs and routing angles to the baggage ribs.

Riveted the aft bulkhead to the seat rib assembly. Drilled and riveted the doubler to the bulkhead. Fabricated and riveted together the idler bearing assembly and riveted to the bulkhead.

Clecoed the bottom skins together and match drilled some holes. Cut the landing gear leg openings in the forward skins. Machine countersunk the doublers and dimpled the skin stiffeners. Drilled the 9/16″ hole in the skin with a step drill. This hole will be used to mount the transponder antenna.

Today’s Time (hours):	5.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	31.0
Total Time (hours):	485.5

Primed all the parts and began assembly

Primed all the mid fuse lower structure parts. There are a lot of them!

Riveted the doublers to the baggage ribs.

Dimpled the seat ribs. Riveted in the nut plates. Riveted the bushing clips to the ribs. Riveted in the rib doublers. Riveted in the routing angles. Riveted the crotch strap brackets to the ribs.

Today’s Time (hours):	4.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	26.0
Total Time (hours):	480.5

Completed forward mid fuselage bulkheads (Section 25)

Received the new bulkhead bars from Van’s. Cut and deburred them. Scuffed them, Machine countersunk and riveted them. Reamed all the holes and bolted them to the aft bulkhead.

Today’s Time (hours):	2.0
Fuselage Time (hours):	22.0
Total Time (hours):	476.5