Fuselage

October 28, November 12, 2006

Began work on the flap motor mounting and assembly. Fabricated the attach plates and mounting angles. Modified the center bearing block per plan.

The center block with modifications. Block is split in half, drilled for mounting bolts and notched to clear aft seat floor.

November 20, 2006

Installed the flap actuator weldment and left, right and half of the center bearing blocks for test fit. Clecoed the flap actuator brackets to the flap actuator channel and match drilled to seat back bulkhead. The flap motor will mount to the center channel and attach to the flap actuator weldment (white tubular structure).

November 24, 2006

Fit and match drilled flap motor to flap actuator channel. Fit and drilled side covers to flap actuator channel and backrest brace. Test fit the forward tunnel cover assembly. Disassembled everything and did the usual deburring of edges and holes. Dimpled where required and install several nut plates and called out for in plan. The side covers will be held in place by screws as they must be removable for flap motor inspection and maintenance.

November 25, 2006

Removed baggage and seat floor panels and vacuumed out the metal shavings from flap assembly drilling. Riveted a few miscellaneous nut plates on the aft fuselage baggage bulkheads that will attach baggage compartment side panels. Set up the shop for a prep and priming session.

November 26-29, 2006

Did the usual cleaning, prepping and priming of the seat back,  flap and forward cover components.

November 30, 2006

Began riveting seat back components. Riveted hinges to seatback braces and to seat backs. Here I'm trying out the new "Main Squeeze" rivet squeezer.

December 2, 2006

Finished up both seatbacks and started riveting the seat hinges to the seat floors.

December 4, 2006

Finished up riveting hinges to seat floors. Right picture shows close-up of the 3 adjustment positions of the seat backs. Started some riveting on the flap actuator channels and forward covers. (No pictures of this but will post some later).

December 7, 2006

Part of the forward cover includes the heat diffuser for the cabin floor area. The slats must be bent out by hand to help distribute the heat evenly over the cabin floor. I used my sheet metal pliers to make the bends, being careful not to scratch the freshly primed parts.

December 16-18, 2006

Tackled the fuel pickup tube service bulletin. Go there.