Builder's Log
DateAssemblyInstructionPartDescriptionLinks
01/28/2013 Fuselage F18 F20-07 F20-08 F20-09 F20-10 F20-11 F20-12

F20 Turtle Deck Details.
F20-12 Aft Clip. I cut this part from Z02-03 Angle stock using the band saw. I trimmed to final size and shape using the scotch brite wheel. I made a pattern of the holes using tracing paper. I transfered the hole locations to the part using the pattern. I used the drill press to drill the holes per the plans.
F20-11 Forward Clip. I cut this part from Z02-03 Angle stock using the band saw. I trimmed to final size and shape using the scotch brite wheel. I made a pattern of the holes using tracing paper. I transfered the hole locations to the part using the pattern. I used the drill press to drill the holes per the plans.
F20-10 Former Clips. I made 6 of these parts. I cut this part from Z02-03 Angle stock using the band saw. I trimmed to final size and shape using the scotch brite wheel. I measured and located the holes on the larger flange for all 6 parts. I measured and marked the holes on the smaller flange for only 3 of the parts. I used the drill press to drill only the holes I had marked. Since these parts are going to be 3 pairs on the skin splice channel I want the holes on the short side to be match drilled. Next I clamped the short sides together using one already drilled and one not yet drilled. I then match drilled the holes and clecoed them together. I also number the matched pairs so that they won't get seperated.
F20-09 Left and Right Hand Attach Plates. The these kit supplied parts however they needed to be bent 30 degrees. I used the arbor press to bend them to the correct angle. I also cleaned and deburred the part.
F20-08 Splice Plate. This is also a kit supplied part. All that was required was to clean and debur the part.
F20-07 Skin Splice Channel. This part was cut from Z02-04 Channel Stock. It was cut to length using a hack saw. The angles at each end were cut with a hack saw and snips. The end were cleaned and debured with a file.

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01/29/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-02 F19-03

F19-03 Splice Assembly.
I measured and marked on F20-07 Skin Splice Channel the locations for the F20-10 Former clips. On one side of the splice channel I clamped the clips in location. I drilled #40 pilot holes through the splice channel using the clip for location. I then clecoed the clips on both sides to the channel. Next I up drilled to #30 all the holes for the clips through the channel. I removed the clecos and deburred all the holes. I clecoed the clips back in place and riveted them per the plans.
F19-02 Skin Assembly.
I clamped the splice channel to the edge of the table. I clamped the right hand skin to the channel. Next I drilled #40 pilot holes through the channel using the pilot holes in the skin for location. I then moved the splice channel to the middle of the work table. I clamped the end to the table edges. I also placed some block along the channel to help hold it up right. I clecoed both the left and right hand skins to the splice channel with the left skin on top. I then up drilled all the holes to #30 size. I removed all the clecos and deburred all the holes on both skins and the splice channel. I clecoed it all together with the left hand skin on top. I riveted all 77 holes. With 76 through the splice channel and 1 just through the two skins per the plans.

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01/30/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
I drew a blue line 1" from the outer edge on F19-02 Skin Assembly.
1. Locate, Pilot Drill and Cleco Left Side Turtle Deck Skin
I removed the clecos along the longeron on the left side of the Aft Fuselage Box. I placed the Skin Assembly on top of the Box. I stood in side the box and raised the skin assembly to an angle that allowed me to slide the turtle deck skin in between the left side skin and longeron. I then proped the skin assembly up by wedging a length of angle between the splice channel and the right side longeron. I then positioned the turtle deck skin per the instructions in the plan. I next drilled pilot holes along the left side through the turtle deck skin. I clecoed the skin in place as I went along.
2. Locate, Pilot Drill and Cleco Right Side Turtle Deck Skin
I removed the clecos along the right side of the box. I slide the turtle deck skin in between the longeron and the right side skin. I made sure that the box was not twisted by checking level and plumb at bothe ends of the box. Next I drilled pilot holes and clecoed the right hand side of the turtle deck skin.
3. Locate, Pilot Drill and Cleco Former #5
F20-05 Former #5. Per the plans I next located Former #5 and pilot drilled holes. I clecoed it in place.
4. Locate, Pilot Drill and Cleco Aft Clip
Then I located, drilled pilot holes and clecoed F20-12 Aft Clip.
5. Locate, Pilot Drill and Cleco Formers #1
F20-01 Formers #1 I started to locate, pilot drill these formers to the turtle deck skin. I was able to get the left former clecoed to the turtle deck skin.

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01/31/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
I finished locating Formers #1 by drilling pilot holes and clecoing along the front skin edge. I located, drilled pilot holes and clecoed the splice plate and front clip for Formers #1. I also did the same for the Attach Plates. Next I located, drilled pilot holes and clecoed Formers #4 per the plans.

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02/02/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
I located, drilled pilot holes and clecoed Formers #3 and #2 per the plans. I clamped the left and right formers to the clips at the top. I used some spacers I made to get the ends the proper distance from the center line at the top. I then drilled pilot holes into the formers from the pilot holes located in the skin. Then I drilled pilot holes in the clips at the top. Then I drilled the pilot holes at the bottom of the formers using the verticals pilot holes to locate. Since every thing was now located and pilot drilled per the plans I started up drilling to #30 size. There are a lot of holes. I will finish tomorrow.

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02/03/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
I finished up drilling all the holes to #30. I then started disassembling the turtle deck. I also started deburring as I go.

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02/04/2013 Fuselage F18 F19.01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
I finished disassembling the turtle deck. I deburred all the holes. I cleaned all ink marks off of the parts. I riveted the forward and aft to the splice channel. I reassembled the turtle deck using clecos. I riveted the turtle deck skins, side skins and longerons on bothe the left and right side. I did the left side first. I have decided to rivet every thing in the same order that the plans call for the installation. Next I riveted the turtle deck skin to the #5 former. Then I riveted the aft clip to the #5 former. I also riveted the inside bottom of former #5 to the aft shear web on the box.
Today was also an interesting day because I had some visitors. I always enjoy talking to people about my project and planes in general.

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02/06/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01 F18-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
Today I finished the Turtle Deck Installation. I first riveted the #1 Formers to the skin. Then I riveted the formers to the splice plate and forward clip. I also riveted the angle plates to the #1 formers. Then I riveted Formers #4, #3 and #2 in that order. Also on each I first riveted the skin to the formrs. Then I riveted the formers to the splice channel clips. Last I riveted for each former to the vertical and cross tie channels. This followed the order of assembly in the plans.
F18-01 Tail Cone Assembly.
I installed the four bolts AN525-10R12 called out in detail A. I torqued the bolts to 25 in/lbs. Next I riveted the bottom of Cross Tie #1 as shown in view DD. I clecoed the bottom skin to the assembly. I will leave it that way until the final assembly of the airframe.

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02/07/2013 Fuselage F18 F19-01

F19-01 Turtle Deck Installation.
In reviewing my work from yesterday I found a missing rivet on former #4 right hand side. It was where the former is riveted to the vertical channel. So this morning I removed the bottom skin and installed the missing rivet.

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10/21/2015 Fuselage F18

Installed rivets for bottom fuselage skin.

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