Drilled out the spar holes and prepped the parts for cortec, applied it and it’s not ready for riveting.
Rear spar fit and cortec
Drilling out rivets
I have these brackets on the wrong side for the new door design. I did what I saw in Homebuilt help in this case even though I know better. As Jon says all the time “CHECK YOUR PLANS”.
These brackets really need to be powder coated, so I’m thinking of buying a coater and doing it myself.
Also got the nuts on top of the nose gear spring. Doesn’t make sense to adjust the tention here until the engine is mounted so I left it as a TODO item.
Wing rib riveting
Riveted all of the ribs except the inboard.
Not sure why these holes don’t line up, maybe I have the one from the left wing?
Wing root and rear channel – Right Wing
Worked on the wing root ribs, they don’t fit well on the inside.
The the rear channel and the three doublers.
Nosewheel bushing work
Drilled out the template holes and tapped the bottom ones.
Right wing root and spar work
Working on the right wing spar, ribs and root pieces. Have I mentioned this week how much I hate the stickers on these parts?
Expanded a BUNCH of holes to 20, marked and deburred them. These still need to be disassembled before riveting for corrosion protection.
Also, this doesn’t fit…
Nose wheel… almost
Drove out to the hangar today only to find out my bottom bushing is not made to the plans specs. Supposed to be 94mm and it’s 98mm. Put in an email to Roger about it. Sigh.
I’d be less frustrated if I thought Zenith was really committed to their builders. I’m starting to wonder the more I go down the rabbit hole.
Nose wheel and strut
Finished the nosewheel and strut minus the holes in the axel for the cotter pins. Next is the bushing for it that I had to order a tap for. The whole thing will get test fitted Tuesday when I swing by the hangar.
Gear spring
Installation for this was a snap. Will add the nose strut to it when I’m finished with the fork in the wheel
Moving the fuselage to the airport
Big thanks to my Dad for his patience, engineering help, and truck. Also big kudos to Fuzzy Dave in our EAA chapter for the use of his trailer which was custom built to move small airplanes. 38 miles from my garage to the airport and it went smoothly.
