Okay so the holidays are over finally and it's time to get back to work on the plane!!! Over the holidays
I had a nice time back home in the south with my dad and siblings. I shot a couple of deer, drank a lot
of wine, etc etc
Anyways back to the important stuff. As suggested to me by Carl Froehlich I had adjusted the fuel cap
on the left tank, refilled the tank and tested again for leaks. This time no dribbling of anything from
the fuel cap so its all happy there.
One of the VAF members, Mikeandmaz, came in from over the pond to check out the build and get his
hands dirty. I'd been kind of putting off riveting the back baffle and attach Zee's to the left tank. It
was really nothing more than silly fear. I knew what it meant to have to open up the baffle to get inside.
Once sealed up that was it, theoretically anyways.
I put the fuel sender float on the inside, we cleaned the inside out thoroughly with lint free clothes, and
commenced to clecoing the baffle on. Together Mike and I riveted the baffle then attach Zees in place.
Once that was done nothing to do but wait. The sealant should be dry tomorrow. At that point
all I need to do is go back, countersink and rivet the remaining baffle rivets and that SHOULD be it.
After that seals it's the balloon test and when that passes I'll call it done.
With the tank in waiting I turned my attention back to the main spar and the ribs. I took an hour and
shored up one of the work benches. Note to self but the next time I build a set of the EAA work benches
I'm going to buy 2 extra 2x4s and use those as the source for the 33" pieces. The original 4 used are
going to stay full length. 8' tables are much more useful. Also I've started re purposing one of my ram
mounts to use to help me document my build.
Anyways, The ribs have been fluted, flattened, final drilled, deburred, dimpled (bottom flange only),
primed, step drilled, bushings put in and are riveted to the main spar itself!
And of course the obligatory through the ribs pic:
It's making me nervous though as now the ribs are held onto the spar with nothing but rivets and
a couple of bolt/washer/nut combos. Once I get the rear spar on I'll feel a little more comfortable.
Anyways here's just a few links to the video feeds that have been put up. There's a lot of them
so I'm only linking a few. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/ELeL0lj1FrI
https://youtu.be/i9HqQp1sMn0
https://youtu.be/-PPBZVfI9r4
https://youtu.be/va90x4sRjy4