Center fuselage assembly
Hours: 5.2 | Posted in Center FuselagePicked up a hole saw set today, so I was able to cut the holes for the step tube, and smooth them out with a small scotchbrite wheel and some primer on a Q-tip.
Riveted together the little cutout pieces from the center seat ribs. Squeezed the nutplates on the seat pan ribs, then riveted and bolted the ribs, once at a time, onto the aft part of the 904 bulkhead. Once that was complete, added the 905 and riveted the ribs to that, adding the baggage floor ribs as appropriate. One rivet in an awkward place (905, in the center tunnel, with both a seat rib and a baggage rib) needed to be drilled out a couple times, and I ended up having to drill it up and put in an AN3 bolt. Oh well, life goes on, and it is in a place that is accessible for inspections.
Once the skeleton was riveted together, the assembly was flipped inverted and the bottom skin added. Clecoed in every other hole, then riveted began. Completed the outermost ribs of the seat and baggage areas…I’ll have to see how far I can go before my arms grow too short and help must be called in to drive rivets.
