The point of no return

According to the assembly instructions, this is the "point of no return" as things start going together in final assembly.  We first installed some plate nuts so that we can install the landing light into the wing leading edge.  After that we reassembled the leading edge and began riveting it together.  Finally we installed the plate nuts that will be used to connect the fuel tank to the leading edge.  It was nice to start putting the wing together.

Scott fitting the wing light installation template into the leading edge rib. 

A picture of the instructions to install the HID (High Intensity Discharge) landing lights from Duckworks Aviation. 

A couple of platenuts being installed for the landing lights. 

The reason for the title of this entry (this is where parts of the wing start going together permanently) 

Scott adjusting the rivet squeezer 

Darren installing the platenuts on the leading edge (the fuel tank is connected here).  

Left wing preparations (many weekends of effort)

Sorry for the lack of updates over the past few weeks.  This one will cover all of the work we've done since the last update. 

We've spent a lot of time doing the same things over and over.  We deburred all of the wing skins and ribs.  Next we dimpled all of the stiffners, ribs and the skins (I can't say enough that there are a lot of rivet holes on the wing).  With the main spar it was necessary to machine countersink any rivet holes.  None of this is difficult but it does take a lot of timeand is very repetitive.  We finished the various sessions by priming the main skins and all other parts.  Most of the prep work is finished so assembly of the left wing will start.

 April 4th

Darren working on some deburring. 

 

Scott working on some dimpling. 

April 7th

 

Scott working on prepping one of the wing skins (we remove the blue protective plastic coating). 

 

A shot of the ongoing dimpling work.  This is one of the wing ribs. 

 

Darren working on prepping one of the wing skins.  

 April 19th

A team effort: using the c-frame dimpler on one of the wing skins. 

April 21st

 

The main wing spar after some machine counter sinking. 

The machine countersinking of the rivert holes on the main spar is done so the rivets will sit flush with the skin when all the components are assembled. 

 

Darren working on machine countersinking. 

 

Scott taking a turn at countersinking.