1 hr yesterday and 2 hrs. today riveting!

Riveting the sides.

On to it's side with the wife's help. ;-)

All of the bottom and sides are done!

NEXT TASKS:

1. Rudder cables and supporting structure is next.
2. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).

2.5 hrs. riveting the rear skins.

Bouncing side to side, riveting in symmetrical batches.

Lots done, but plenty more to go...  Won't be riveting the top row as that mates with the top skins.

NEXT TASKS:

1. Continue to rivet the rear skins on.
2. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).

1 hr starting to rivet the rear skins.

I like to do the riveting in a symmetrical manner.  I did the first set of rivets for two rows on the left side then I did the same set of rivets on the right side.  Next will be back on the left side to do the second set (removing the cleco's) and then the same on the right side.  Back and forth to even out the tension I'm creating.  Frankly I don't know that it makes any difference to do it that way, it just seems like a good idea. :-)

Was in NYC (my hometown!) over the weekend and got to enjoy a treat we had in Venice, Italy; Grom's all-natural gelato.   Delicious!!  This one is right near Columbus Circle in Manhattan.

Also saw this wonderful play on Broadway.  If you can, see it!!  I think it's coming to Boston soon, so any locals should see it when it gets here.

NEXT TASKS:

1. Continue to rivet the rear skins on.
2. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).

Just wanted to let people know that I won't be able to do much, if any, work on the plane for the next few days.  Should be back at it Sunday night.

To entertain you in the meantime, here's a chocolate chip cookie recipe you MUST make! :-)  Use the best ingredients you can find (e.g. Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips, quality vanilla extract and the best butter you can buy) and follow the directions exactly (e.g. you need parchment paper on the baking sheets)!  You won't regret it!!

The wet stuff all mixed.

Ready for the combining (don't forget the baking soda in the dry mix!).

Ready to go!

And into the oven....

Here they are.  OK, I over-baked them a bit, but they were still AMAZING.  Trust me, you'll thank me!!  Email me (my profile has my email) and let me know how they came out! :-)

1 hr. drilling out and riveting the gusset on Rib 3.

Here's the gusset attachment to be drilled through now that the skins are cleco'ed into place.

Thought I'd use my Tight-Fit drill attachment, but I still really couldn't get in there to drill a proper hole.  So, I tried this extra long drill bit and it worked perfectly.

Drilled one hole, reamed it out to size and cleco'ed it while I drilled the other holes.

And it's done! :-)

As I've been alerted not to rivet where the step gets attached, I'm trying to understand which rivets exactly not to rivet.  If I read the Sling 2 instructions correctly it would be the center holes around where the top arrow points (maybe the center 6 rivets?) and the corresponding line of holes underneath where the lower arrow is pointing.  Look right?

NEXT TASKS:

1. Rivet the rear skins on.
2. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).

3 hrs. continuing work on the rear skins.

Got my Super Soundproof material (1/4") from Aircraft Spruce yesterday.  This is way better quality than what came with the kit (thicker and denser).  I bought 10' of it.

On it's side to put on the side skins.

Working my way up the right side.

Rounded out these flanges a bit (this is before).

Looking good.

Making my way up the left side.

Done for the day.  Maybe rivet tomorrow?  I'll want to double check everything, especially the instructions before riveting...

A satisfying view.

NEXT TASKS:

1. Drill out and rivet the gussets on Rib 3.
2. Rivet the rear skins on.
3. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).

2 hrs. on Friday re-applying skins to the rear fuselage.

The skin doesn't bend easily around the bottom.  The only way is to start at one end and put the cleco's in and it slowly bends into position.

Making progress.

I don't want the skin to have facets so these flanges should be rounded.  Here's before.

And using some needle-nose pliers, here's after.  Much better!

On its side to more easily put in cleco's.

Holes don't line up.  See the video below.

You can see how far they are from this angle.

Video showing the holes being off.

I'm thinking the solution is to drill out the holes to larger rivets and be done with it.

Just a pic showing the big view of how it looks right now.  More work today and will post an update later.

NEXT TASKS:

1. Start putting on the 3 rear fuselage skins as per the instructions.
2. Rivet the one on the left wing's step rib that needs special handling.?? (to be done in "spare" time).