January 2018

Aft decking

Aft fuselage 10-27

Aft decking fitted and holes match drilled in the Horizontal Stab Attach Bar Support Angle. It really is very pleasing to see how it all fits together.  Just waiting for some riveting help again to…


Oops rivet

The inspector called..

Before I put the aft decking on my inspector popped round to check on progress.  I particularly wanted him to look where I had put a MK319 blind rivet where I had drilled out a…


Aft Fuselage 10-20

Got on with riveting the nutplates for the access panels and fairings after my riveting partner deserted me again 😉. Managed to squeeze them all with the longeron yoke although some are very tight. Next…


Aft fuselage 10-19

Finally got the side panels riveted to the lower skin and bulkheads. We turned the assembly on its side which made access a lot easier.  I was going to back-rivet but we decided to buck…


Hamish the riveter

Aft fuselage – side skins 2

It’s a lot easier with an aircraft engineer with you!  Whole row of rivets and more complete in about 30 mins and it only cost me a dinner.  Just the lower skin to finish and…


Aft fuselage – side panels

I’m sure if you attacked this all in one go then you could see it nearly finished in a day.  I have been going back and forth for a few days now and the side…


Rudder cable guide

Aft fuselage – cable guides

Whilst waiting for the apprentice riveter to recover from his hangover (kids…), I got on with the rudder cable guides. These have to be countersunk which I did by hand as it isn’t critical, just…


Aft fuselage 10-21 to 10-26

Before the side panels are riveted all the wiring and static lines have to be installed along with the rudder cables. It’s not a difficult job but it does take a little bit of study…