28 - Fwd Fuse Lower Structure (completed); 29 - Fwd Mid Fuse Side Structure (mated forward and center sections)

The past week and a half were fairly productive.  I also received a couple major shipments of parts, including the WH-000125-3 fuselage wiring harness from SteinAir, and fuel and brake lines from Aircraft Specialty.  Both companies produce top-notch products that I would be unable to duplicate in my humble home workshop.  Items that were accomplished include:

- countersunk, primed and riveted tunnel angle (F14132); joined muffler and firewall assemblies; riveted tunnel sides and cover bases to forward bottom skins; riveted and bolted center section bulkhead to firewall/muffler assembly
- back-riveted cover ribs to forward bottom skins (with my wife); riveted cover base webs to cover ribs; prepared firewall penetration fittings (waiting for another section of proseal, so won’t waste tube); cut and polished stainless steel vent hinges
- drilled and dimpled hinges for vents; deburred and primed vents, sides and arms; riveted vent door assemblies and inlet assemblies and cable brackets to firewall; countersunk and riveted battery box to firewall
- installed cover panels and nutplates on cover panels; broke down the fuselage crate for trash (still need to proseal and attach the firewall penetration fittings)
- prepped and primed the skin overlaps between center bottom and forward bottom skins
- joined front and middle fuselage halves; removed bulkhead bar assemblies; primed lower gear braces; attached brass elbows to gear braces (for brake fluid); attached gear braces, lower and upper drag fittings with bolts; clecoed center section side plates; final-torqued bolts in upper and lower drag fittings
- match-drilled #40 holes in upper drag fitting; removed and deburred center section side plates; re-clecoed side plates
- fabricated wooden stand to put fuselage on its side; prepared workshop for fuselage move to floor
- moved fuselage to floor (standing on side); clecoed every hole; riveted all holes (except for muffler shroud) with my wife helping with all parts that were back-riveted; prosealed muffler shroud and firewall penetration fittings; attached two nutplates

Here are the main wiring harnesses from SteinAir (doesn't look like much for $1300 ... but this would have taken me forever to make, and I'd probably screw up multiple times);

27 - Firewall (completed); 28 - Fwd Fuse Lower Structure (riveted to firewall assembly; prosealed)

The firewall-related sections are starting to take shape!  I'm really enjoying building this RV-14A - Van's, you did an excellent job with the instructions and overall assembly process.  I'm constantly amazed when all the holes align.  I used "Proseal" again this week - I really missed the smell, and I've grown fond of using it.  Here are the specifics for this week:

- riveted nose gear brackets and firewall angles to tunnel sides; dimpled stainless steel firewall sides
deburred, countersunk and primed firewall angles; riveted angles and gussets to firewall sides; deburred and dimpled firewall top; deburred, countersunk and primed firewall angle (F-01401D)
- deburred angles and gussets for firewall; countersunk relay doubler; dimpled firewall center
- deburred and dimpled forward bottom skins; drilled holes for COM antennae in skins; separated and deburred doublers, hangers, and fuel pump brackets; dimpled antennae doublers; dimpled skin stiffeners; prepped muffler shroud
- fuel tank sealant (“proseal”) used to seal top to side firewalls; tunnel sides attached to firewall; sealed center firewall (only fully clecoed at this point)
- riveted stiffeners and antennae doublers to forward bottom skins; prosealed muffler shroud sides to forward bottom skins (clecoed only; riveted muffler shroud ramp to sides, muffler doublers and muffler hanger angles; riveted fuel pump brackets to muffler shroud and added 4 nutplates
- riveted firewall skins to angles, nosewheel brackets, and gussets
- riveted relay doubler to firewall; riveted all nutplates to firewall
- riveted muffler shroud sides to forward bottoms skins; deburred and riveted cover bases to firewall assembly; prosealed and riveted firewall assembly to muffler shroud and bottom skins; clecoed rest of firewall assembly to bottom skins

Riveted nosewheel attachments to tunnel sides: