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Build Diary 06/07-August-05


Friday, I started testing some paint for the canopy perspex, as other builders have used different paints. The painting is to cover where the perspex fits to the frame. Basically just to make it all look tidier. Jo came out for half an hour to help with the riveting of the rear skin on.

Saturday was a full day in the workshop. I Jo is helping rivet the skin on - we want to get it complete this weekend. First an hour session then a break as her hands ache. I check over all the rivets we have done and remove the odd one ready for another sessions. We have almost all done on I have left the corners and a very hard to get to rivet (pictured below) for tomorrow.

Between riveting the rear skin I have been doing some odd jobs that need completing. The second set of brake pedals. I had decided to leave them out, but I will need checking out in this plane so I am sure the other pilot is going to want some brakes!

This is my paint testing. Here I am testing the different types and brands of paint on bits of scrap from the canopy.
Inside the rear. You can see the seat belt fixings on the side.

Seat belt mount in rear of fuse
This rivet is hard to get to.... the angle below is already fitted on a QB fuse.
This rivet is hard to get to.... the angle below is already fitted on a QB fuse.
Here is my special lady - Jo. She hammered the rivets while I bucked from inside the fuse. She was very careful not to make the skin.
Jo hammered the rivets from the outside while I bucked from inside the fuse. As you can see it's a little cramped.
I bucked from inside the fuse. As you can see it's a little cramped. It was like having your head in a bell while somebody hammers on it!!!
Between riveting the skin I finished off a few job's. This is the fuel tap cover.

I have decided to fit a set of brakes on the passenger side. Here I am making up the pedals
This is the pedal kit.
Another job, take off the flange on the air vent.
This is Jo's work - the outside finish on the rivets. Here we have almost finished.
The finish of the rivets is very good.
The rear set of rivets. The skin is curved so it's easy to dent with the rivetgun. Jo has done a really neat job here.
Almost finish on the top of the skin.

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