Not much progress so far this weekend. The sun was out, so I did outdoor chores like buy a Christmas tree, clean the gutters, kill the moss on the roof, fix the Christmas lights, etc. I did manage to paint a little primer on the seat belt brackets where the powder coating was taken off from grinding them down. I covered all but the very edge of the bracket.
Spent a little time taping down the rivets on the center fuselage bottom skin. It’s ready for riveting.
This picture shows the general state of the project. The wings are done, except for bottom skins and wing tips. The aft fuselage is half riveted together, still waiting for help from Julie. The center fuselage bottom skin is ready for riveting. And the longerons are done. I’m running out of things to work on while waiting for riveting help. I guess I’ll pull out the seat backs or brake pedals. I think those two things are fairly independent of the rest.
Riveted the seat and baggage ribs to the F-705 bulkhead and then clecoed on the center bottom skin. Also placed rivets in all of the open holes–ready for taping.
(edit 4/22/2005: Before riveting together the center section, it would be much easier to install the 5th point crotch strap attach point and electric aileron trim, if you are installing those options. It’s much harder to install them later after the seat ribs are riveted together.)
Very cool progress tonight. I bolted and riveted the seat ribs to the aft part of the F-704 center section. I started bolting the ribs in place, and then wondered if the rivet holes would still line up. Sure enough, they didn’t. I had to loosen a few bolts and then put rivets in all of the holes. I torqued down the AN3 bolts to 25 in-lbs, and then started in on the riveting. I set the assembly up on end. It’s always easier to rivet pushing down than trying to clamp the assembly in place and rivet sideways.
I solo riveted everything without any problems. I could have squeezed some of the rivets, but with the 3X fun it’s easier and faster to just shoot them all.
I’ll have the center fuselage bottom skin ready for riveting by tomorrow. I guess I better pour on the extra-nice treatment, so Julie will help out this weekend. 
We’ve got the aft fuselage to finish up and now the center fuse.
Finished dimpling the center bottom skin with the C-frame. I think we’re ready for riveting… as soon as the aft fuselage is done.
Finished deburring the center bottom skin and dimpled around the edges with the squeezer. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out whether the forward two rows should be dimpled or not. The instructions mention not to dimple the aft rows, but don’t say anything about the front rows. After staring at the plans, it looks like the F-704 bulkhead gets attached to the ribs in such a way that it will be difficult to dimple the skin later. I went ahead and dimpled the holes.
I also trimmed four of the seat belt anchors a little more to clear the seat rib flanges.
Deburred one side of the center bottom skin.
Deburred the edges of the center bottom skin, and dimpled the holes in the F-704 bulkheads. I also measured how much more needs to be trimmed off of the seat belt anchors that butt up against the seat ribs.
Primed the rivet lines on the bottom center fuselage skin. Deburred the center section doublers.
Made the cut outs in the seat and baggage ribs for the wiring holes through the F-705 bulkhead.
