Right Fuel Tank

Construction now begins on the right fuel tank. All procedures are identical to the left tank. I'm hoping this will go a little smoother since I now am an "experienced" tank builder. (Ha Ha)

August 27, 2004

Cleco'ed the tank ribs to the tank skin. These were just as stubborn going together as the left tank. With a little forcefulness, some hand shaping of the nose of the ribs and a little cursing, all went together.

August 28, 2004

Cut, shaped and deburred the tank stiffeners. Drilled the center holes on the tank attach "z" brackets using the template provided. (See picture at right)

August 29, 2004

Match drilled tank attach brackets to rear tank baffle. Holes are then deburred.

Going back to some more work on the right wing. Go there.

September 25, 2004

Temporarily rivet tank attach brackets to rear baffle. Entire tank is cleco'ed together and set on the spar. Leading edge assembly and all skins are cleco'ed to wing skeleton assembly and the wing is checked for twist. Rear tank brackets are then backdrilled using holes in the spar as guides.

  October 5, 2004

Fabricated the tank attach bracket that connects the inboard forward end of the tank to the fuselage. Fabricated the inboard and outboard tank rib nose reinforcement plates.

October 7, 2005

Riveted platenuts to main spar for rear inboard tank bracket attachment. (Forgot to take pic)

October 9, 2004

Match drilled tank skin to ribs and rear baffle. Machine countersank skin to rear tank baffle rivet holes.

The rear tank baffle is left on while machine countersinking to act as a guide for the countersink bit.