Aft Fuselage and Turtle Deck Assembly
After confirming that the fuselage was level and square,
everything was locked into position and the final riveting of
the upper cross ties and the seat belt shoulder harness attach
points was completed. Prior to moving on I double checked
everything with the clamps and locks removed. All checked
out with out any problems.
everything was locked into position and the final riveting of
the upper cross ties and the seat belt shoulder harness attach
points was completed. Prior to moving on I double checked
everything with the clamps and locks removed. All checked
out with out any problems.
I just could not pass up the chance to check the fit of the
stabilators and the turtledeck formers. It was rather
reassuring to see the fit as called for in the plans. It also
gave me a chance to check the fit of the turtledeck channel.
I wasn't sure about the angle until I checked the fit at this
point.
stabilators and the turtledeck formers. It was rather
reassuring to see the fit as called for in the plans. It also
gave me a chance to check the fit of the turtledeck channel.
I wasn't sure about the angle until I checked the fit at this
point.
I started by attaching the clips that would attach to the
formers. Notice that all the mating surfaces are primer
prior to final riveting. This has been the case throught the
construction process. The drilling of the channel was
accomplished by placing both turtle deck skins on top of
one another and drilling through all. It worked out quite
well.
formers. Notice that all the mating surfaces are primer
prior to final riveting. This has been the case throught the
construction process. The drilling of the channel was
accomplished by placing both turtle deck skins on top of
one another and drilling through all. It worked out quite
well.
After checking all the measurments again the turtle deck
skin was riveted to the channel. The initial fitting of the
turtledeck to the fuselage was a little trickey. This was a
two person job. After the initial fitting alignment, level
and square was checked again and the fuselage was
locked into position again.
skin was riveted to the channel. The initial fitting of the
turtledeck to the fuselage was a little trickey. This was a
two person job. After the initial fitting alignment, level
and square was checked again and the fuselage was
locked into position again.
I then placed all the formers starting as called for in the
plans.All the formers fit real well however, the number
three formers required a little modification to fit against
the belt shear web. A small crimp was placed at the point
where it was touching the web and this solved the
problem.
plans.All the formers fit real well however, the number
three formers required a little modification to fit against
the belt shear web. A small crimp was placed at the point
where it was touching the web and this solved the
problem.
After all the initial fitting and drilling was completed all
the measurments were checked and re-checked prior to
opening all the holes up to #30. After opening all the
holes, I removed the clecoes from one side and debured
all the holes removed the formers and primed all the
former contact surfaces. After one side was completed I
moved on the the next side. This proved to be quite time
consuming. After all the deburing, refitting, and
clamping everything into position again I was ready to
complete the final riveting. The aft fueslage box and
turtledeck was now complete. Note: the bottom skins
will be riveted in place at the last moment to afford
greater access to the interior during the rest of the
construction process.
the measurments were checked and re-checked prior to
opening all the holes up to #30. After opening all the
holes, I removed the clecoes from one side and debured
all the holes removed the formers and primed all the
former contact surfaces. After one side was completed I
moved on the the next side. This proved to be quite time
consuming. After all the deburing, refitting, and
clamping everything into position again I was ready to
complete the final riveting. The aft fueslage box and
turtledeck was now complete. Note: the bottom skins
will be riveted in place at the last moment to afford
greater access to the interior during the rest of the
construction process.
This is starting to look like an airplane.