Started the External side step installation - 6 hours

 I've been avoiding installing the side steps for a while now. I can't really explain why, I suppose I thought it was going to be difficult and frustrating. Fortunately its much better than I thought it was going to be. 

I started off by marking out the rivet dimensions as per the plans. I do need to adjust the one rivet line to suit the F-724 bulkhead rivet line (as noted in the instructions).

I notice that I have to remove some material on the end of the tube to get the mounting plate to fit better. I also noticed that the inside of the welds on the backside of the mounting plate was also interfering with the fit. I will need open up the mounting hole, and trim the tube length. Fortunately trimming the end of the tube is really easy. It's a square cut (not angled) and its short work for an angle grinder. 

 

Soon I noticed that the inside of the mounting flange was making some marks on the fuselage side skin. Ultimately its caused by the front-side weld "bleeding" through to the backside of the plate and its a bit rough. 

Taking a non-ferrous wheel on the drill, I cleaned things up.

Next, I need to transfer the existing rivet lines onto the mounting plate. 

Its fitting really well. 

I finished the build session by drilling some of the top and forward #30 holes in order to mount the steps, however I am careful not to drill the aft holes yet. I will need to bend that lower aft corner of the mounting plate to fit the fuselage before I can drill those holes. I have quite a gap to close there.