Dec 03, 2022     20-5 & 20-6: Finishing up the right wing skin - (3.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Finished off the step 12 rivets in the right wing this morning.

Moved on to the access panels with no issues. I always knew getting the trim servo hooked up to the springs would be difficult. I happened to see in someone's build log this week that they used zip ties to pull the springs together and then cut them once the servo was connected. Worked like a charm and the trim servo went in super easy.

This section is done. All that is left is the tips.

  Nov 27, 2022     20-5: Right bottom skin - Step 11 - (6.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

After a brief celebration of completing the left wing, I turned the cradles around in the garage to better position for the right wing skin. Didn't really intend to do a big chunk of the right skin today but just slowly started going through the motions throughout the day. Hung the skin, put in some clecos, inserted first set of rivets and taped them. Well, I guess I could set a few…. And next thing you know I had completed step 11 down to the j channel. I'll stop there.

Wow, going much faster and the quality is much better. Pulled in a couple lessons learned like not even messing around with that one corner rivet against the flap bracket; just pull it and go.

11/29: finished step 11 over the past couple nights. No issues.

  Nov 26, 2022     20-5 & 20-6: Left wing finish up - Step 12 - (3.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Got through Step 12 over the past few days. These are the final rivets that are mostly accessed from the lightening holes in the end rib as you awkwardly pull the skin back. Got it all done solo, and my arm has the bruises to prove it. Overall came out good, a few dings here and there, but I'm overall happy with it.

Proceeded to install the nut plates for the access hole covers. Twisted the head off a #6 screw while installing - opted to just drill out the nutplate and replace it. Easy peasy.

  Nov 20, 2022     20-5: Back to the left bottom skin - Step 11 - (6.0 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Getting back to the bottom skins. Been a little cold lately so tough to find motivation. Dug out the larger outboard skin for the left wing and realized that it never got dimpled. Set up the DRDT2 and took care of that. Then cleco'd the skin in place, taped the first line of rivets, and riveted the trailing edge. A long way to go.

Step 11 covers the riveting of the inner half of the outer skin. Similar to Step 10, this starts at the trailing edge and works forward. Just a lot of time on my knees.

11/21: a little more progress on the left wing. Almost done with step 11. Got everything down to the J channel. Got the pitot mast shoehorned in. Had to trim the pitot heat controller back a bit with a dremel to get everything to clear and go together as planned.

11/22: got through step 11 on the left wing finally. The inner portion of the outboard skin that is riveted mostly from the bottom. Step 12 is the outer portion that is riveted from the end. Off my knees at least. Had a little help from Everett - at least he doesn't run away when he hears the rivet gun anymore.

  Nov 19, 2022     20-5: Right bottom skins - Step 10 - (2.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Started the morning with goal of getting the right in board skin done by the end of the weekend. Pretty much knocked it out in a couple hours. Went much faster than the left side and came out perfect.

  Nov 10, 2022     OP-38: Aileron trim servo - (1.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Temporarily installed the pushrod and trim servo and marked the centerline of the servo arm on the pushrod. Measured and drilled the locations for the spring attach brackets. Then wrestled with getting all of it temporarily installed in the wings. I don't know how I'll get it all installed after the bottom skins are in place.

  Nov 06, 2022     20-5: Left bottom skin riveting - Step 10 - (4.2 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

I knew this step would be one of the most difficult. I didn't expect that I'd be able to solo rivet the bottom skin on but so far so good. Well, so far ok. Starts with Step 10, which is the inboard skin. Rivet to the trailing edge first then work your way forward using the access hole and rib lightening holes to get the rivets closest to the spar.

I got most of the inner left skin done today. It was definitely a challenge to get the bucking bar on all the rivets, particularly the tightly spaced inner ribs. I spent most of the time on my knees with may arm extended up into the wing and the gun in my opposite hand. Most are pretty awkward, but you can get on them. I did have a few dings in the skin where the bucking bar was not cleanly on the rivet. At least it is on the bottom. It did get better as I went, but I haven't had dings like that since working on the empennage. I'm going to stop with just the inboard skins for now. I have tech counselor coming later this week before I close up the wing.

11/7: Finished up the inboard left skin. I need to remember to rivet the first rivet ahead of the J channel before riveting the J channel. I did that successfully on the top skin, but forgot on the bottom. Getting that rivet that is covered by the J channel is very difficult. I had to drill out the very last one and messed up the hole a bit. I was not confident I could drive an oops rivet so upsized if and installed a -4 cherry. It sits a little proud. Oh well, got it done. I'll do better on the next one - solo riveting skills were a little rusty.

  Oct 29, 2022     20-5: Bottom skin work - (7.5 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

I've been messing with bottom skins on and off over the last few weeks. Mostly putting them on to get them out of the way. I did sand the corners at the overlap as I had done on the top skin. I had kinda been going off the instructions so thought I should get back to them before prepping and priming the skins.

This morning cleco'd the j channels and skins in place and match drilled the remaining holes in the j channels. Also drilled the holes for nut plates in the in board rib.

Deburred right wing skins and dimpled the wing ribs. Used close quarter simple tool next to flap brackets. Had to use just the male dimple, a block, and some pliers to dimple the aft most #8 screw.

Prepped and primed right skins. It was about 65 out and the paint just wouldn't dry. What a difference from the summer when it dries almost instantly.

10/30: dimpled the right skins. Then got to work on the left skins. Deburred, prepped and primed the j channels and skins. Realizing I'm almost out of ekoprime, I prepped the access panel covers too. This will be the last prime session on the wing. Got everything primed with just enough.

Dimpled the j channels and the inboard left skin.

  Sep 18, 2022     20-4: Flap gap fairings - (2.0 hours)       Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Did some more riveting on the flap gap fairings. Got the right wing done. Also moved the wing over to the main part of the shop to start focusing on a lot of the close out items I need to do before tackling the bottom skins.

9/22: put in a little time tonight and got most of the left wing done too. Just the ones that need to be bucked are left.

  Sep 07, 2022     20-4: Flap gap fairings - (1.0 hour) Category: 20: Bottom Skins

Started on the flap gap fairings. I had previously primed the fairings and the stiffeners. I dimpled all the holes and countersunk the holes on the inboard spar doubler. Cleco'd everything in place and started riveting. Didn't get far though.