Fuselage - 5

December 05, 2014
30 hours - 465 hours total- I've really lost track of the hours I've put in since October. I think this is a good estimate, plus or minus 5 hours. If I had my way I'd spend all my free time working on the airplane, but that's not reasonable. You've got to balance activities, make sure all members of the household aren't neglected. Then there are the chores around the house, the little honey do's and of course work to pay for the project.

As you can see from the pictures below, I have continued to make progress on the fuselage section. This section of the airplane contains many, many nutplates and a whole lot of dimpling. The RV-12 design is outstanding- I say that because it is a assembly that can be performed with basic tools. The design makes complete sense.

In this picture I have the lower fuselage section on it's side for some hard to reach rivets.

 A picture of an error- instructions said this would be a good time to install the Section-35 autopilot brackets. I ignored that direction because I was sure these parts were contained in the next kit. Wrong, that come with the fuselage kit. I had to cut this section out before installing a mounting bracket. I was able to get a hacksaw in to remove the material, and drill required holes with a 90 degree angle drill, but it was tight.

 See the nutplates- they're every place! This is a photo of the F-1203 bulkhead assembly with the Control Arm mount assemblies and left and right bulkhead doublers. The control column will mount here! Stick back nose goes up, up forward, nose goes down!

 If you look to the right, on the F-1203 bulkhead you'll see the Stub Spar receptacle. If you recall the stub spar on the inboard left and right wing, the stub spar fits into this assembly once the wings are installed.

 Another view of the 1203 bulkhead ready to install.

 Cleco'd in place and ready to rivet in place. You're looking at the forward end of the airplane.

 What do you see? Yep, more nutplates! You're looking at the backside of the 1203 bulkhead. These are the seat assembly ribs.

 Lower fuselage assembly- I keeps getting longer as I build forward toward the firewall. Again, you're looking at the forward or nose of the airplane.

Here's a photo, temporary installation. The 1203 bulkhead with the step ribs being installed- actually match drilled at this point.

 Another view of same assembly.

 Okay- today, 12/05/2014, I had a friend stop by to help me flip the fuselage on the bottom side. Need to install side and bottom skins next!

 In this view you can see the control column installed, and yes, more nutplates!

More to come!!