Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (bushings; teflon blocks; rudder cables; static ports/lines; antennae wires)

Finished a few small tasks since the last post.  I decide to use the Cleaveland Tools Static Port and tubing kit instead of the stock Van's kit - the lines and connectors are beefier, and the ports are robust (not just two modified blind rivets).

Inside view of one of the two static ports, cold-welded to the inside of the side skin:

Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (finished riveting side skins; rudder stops; angle brackets; nutplates)

During this past week, I spent the majority of my time on page 10-19, which involves riveting the side skins to the longerons, j-stiffeners, bulkheads, and bottom skins.  I could buck or squeeze most of the rivets by myself ... except for about 140 rivets that attached the curved part of the side skins to the bottom skins.  My wife volunteered her time and skill, and we made quick work of it.  It was the first time she has bucked a rivet - I think I'll be using her newfound talent more in the future.

Squeezed the rivets along the longerons:

Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (completed SB-18-09-17; attached R side; riveted skins to bulkheads)

Due to work (grant deadline looming) and extra extracurricular activities for the kids, I had not stepped foot in the shop for 5 days. However, with the wife and kids visiting grandparents in south Florida, I had plenty of time to catch up today.  First, I completed the service bulletin (SB-18-09-17), since it was easier for me to rivet stiffeners to the bottom skin when the right skin was not yet attached.  After completing the SB, I proceeded to attach the right j-stiffeners (A and B), the right longeron, and both angle stiffeners.  I then modified the aft bottom skin, dimpled where necessary, riveted the aft bottom skin to the aft-most (F-01412) bulkhead, and wedged the two in the aft portion of the aft fuselage assembly.  I then started to rivet the F-01411 bulkhead (second from aft) to the aft bottom skin ... and then I realized I had been in the workshop for nearly 7 hrs without food and without stopping. Then beer called ...

Completed SB, outside view (doubler attached to bottom skin):

Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (bottom skin; wiring harness; side skin; started assembling aft fuselage)

I made a decent amount of progress this weekend after a total of about 15 hrs in the workshop. Following last week's fitting of the frontmost bulkheads, I dimpled all holes in the bottom skin, except for those called out in the Service Bulletin (SB-18-09-17).  This optional SB adds doublers and stiffeners to strengthen the section of the skin that attaches to the F-01408 bulkhead (2nd from front), which is prone to cracks.

Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (several more bulkheads; bellcrank rib assembly)

A decent amount of progress was made since the last post - deburred and riveted the 3rd, 4th and 5th bulkheads (front 3), primed several parts used for the bellcrank rib assembly (as well as future parts of the build), and attached the large (forward-most) bulkhead to the assembly. Having a large structure on the two sawhorses was very satisfying ... this puppy is starting to take the shape of the aft fuselage.

Riveted the 3rd bulkhead to the doublers and horizontal stabilizer attach bars:

Section 10 - Aft Fuselage (aft bulkheads and attach bars)

Continued to (slowly) progress through the steps of assembling the 2 rear-most bulkheads and associated attach bars and tie-down bracket, as well as starting the 3rd bulkhead from the rear. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the empennage kit tunnel - it is nearly time to order the wing kit ... probably by the end of November to have it delivered ~mid-January.

Clecoed and then final-drilled the second bulkhead (2 pieces) from the aft section to the horizontal stabilizer attach bars: