Started fitting the F-711D angle - 2.5 hours

 Now that I have the fuselage relatively level I'm ready to get started on the process to fit the F-714 Aft Deck. One item that I need to finish is to fit/drill the F-711D angle to the F-711C Horizontal Stabilizer attach bars. The plans specifically tell you not to install this piece until the skins are riveted. 

Now I haven't installed the skin rivet that is located on the bulkhead tabs in this area...but I want to make sure that I have as much edge distance possible. Lots of the day was spent fitting the angle and making absolutely sure I had all edge distances. 

I drew lines on the longerons to show the 7/16" dimension as noted on Detail C/Drawing #18

Next I fitted the F-711D angle and then I could begin edge distance checks. Everything is looking good.

 

Starting to level the fuselage - 2 hours

I need to begin to level the fuselage. The sawhorses that I have are too tall for the job. Since they are high quality Dewalt aluminum sawhorses I don't want to cut them down. I did some searching on the internet and found that IKEA makes a small sawhorse that is adjustable in height and only $20. 

Well. knowing IKEA stuff isn't the best quality...I assembled the sawhorse with the help of some PL Premium glue. Its strong, looks good, and its the perfect height.    

Finished riveting the fuse and Flipped the Canoe! - 6 hours

 A big day in the garage but hit a major milestone. I started this morning working on the seat back brace, but after lunch I decided to push through the riveting of the fuselage. All that I needed to do was to finish all of the rivets around the F-706 bulkhead. I was really concerned about this area for the bends/curves at the bottom of the fuse. They weren't the easiest, but they went surprisingly well. Managed to get all rivets set extremely well. My head/arms/ body all were contorted in every position to get to these rivets but I did it.

(A huge thank-you to my buddy Mike who was able to help me rivet via Zoom meeting as we are in a pandemic and lock down....without his 'advice' I couldn't have done any of this).

 And now to the milestone!!! I was able to flip the canoe!! Ahh feels so good to reach this point. 

Just in case you were wondering how much time of spent on the project. Total build Hobbs - 2203.5 hours. 

I count my time as "Garage Time" not "Tool Time". So basically from the time I walk into the garage until I leave the garage. This includes setup and cleanup. I typically put all tools away and sweep up after I am done. only on huge jobs do I leave everything out for the next day.

Finished fabricating the F-638 seat back brace - 2.5 hours

I need to drill the holes in the F-638 seat back brace. The plans call for 2 1/4" holes but I don't have that size of hole saw. I do have a 2" hole saw that cuts holes a tad larger....more like 2 1/8". So for me this is good enough. Using scrap MDF as a backer plate. I located the center of the holes and drilled to #40 and clecoed the brace to the MDF. 

 I now have a stable platform to drill the large 2" holes and not have to worry about the pilot bit 'walking'. 

All holes are easily drilled. Next I drew out the dimensions on the ends of the seat brace and cut them according to the plans. Used aviation snips for a rough-cut and then used the sanding station to finish cuts up to the line. Final edge cleaning by 3M wheel.

Finished drilling the F-742 seat floors - 4 hours

 Now that I am set up with the aft seat floor hinges its time to drill. I started placing and drilling the mount holes in the hinges to the aft floors using a #40 bit. Then I opened up the holes to #30 

So, its not till I actually drilled the hinges to the seat floor that I noticed the hinge covers the hole that mounts the seat floor to the seat rib. It scared me at first, but I soon realized that this hole falls right in the middle of the hinge. I drilled this hole out and will allow be to still install the #8 screw to attach the floors to the seat ribs (remember I made my seat floors removable).

 

I finished the build session be opening up the #40 holes in the seat back brace to #30.

 

More work on the seats - 5 hours

 Lots of time was spent carefully measuring the seat bottoms and the hinges that will eventually be riveted to the seat bottoms. First I marked out the dimensions on the seat bottom pans. 

 I then drew centerlines and required dimensions on all of the hinges. Im careful to label all pieces so that once they are drilled, they end up getting riveted onto the correct place/orientation. 

I took a bit of time with drilling the hinges on. The hinge rivet locations come very close to the seat ribs, so I double checked clearances were going to be ok and not interfere with the seat ribs. 

Next step I fitted the hinges onto the F-638 seat back brace. 

Started on the seat backs - 5.5 hours

 Feeling like fabricating and not riveting today😛. I decided to tackle something new. I dug out angles and hinges and cut all of the parts for the seat backs. 

  A groove is required to be cut into the seat back angles to allow the hinge to nest. I've seen lots on the build log use files to do this, but I found that a router works extremely well on aluminum (yes, dulling the bits to no end but its worth it). 

Still have the router out, using a round over bit I put a radius in the angle that crosses the top of the seat back.