Cabin frame drilling
I carefully measured the width of the fuselage at the cabin frame, which turned out to be 42-5/8″. Allowing for the 3/16″ thick angle on each side meant the cabin frame needed to be 42-1/4″ wide. I used the belt sander to trim just a tiny bit from the center joint. I clamped everything down and drilled the joint plate to the frame using the location called out on the plans (thanks Matthew). I was going to drill the strap next, but I needed to round the corner of it first. I didn’t feel like firing up the grinder.
Instead, I pulled out the panel and sub panel and clecoed that together. It looks very cool. Now I just need to fill that panel with $$.
There were just a few parts left on the shelves from the fuselage kit, so I tried to place some of the items. I tried fitting the two covers that go on the front of the F-704 and figured out that I riveted on the two outboard floor stiffeners in the wrong orientation. I can’t believe I did that. Now I need to figure out if it really matters.
