November 4, 2018 Build time 200.0 Total time 653.0

OK I KNOW! Two months without a post! I’ve been working on it though. Here’s what happened in the last two months. All control surfaces done, pitot tube and plumbing done, wiring done, bottom skins done, landing lights, nav and strobes done. Worked on fixing my numerous rear baffle rivet leaks. Cut open both tanks to fillet the baffle seam. Sealed up the baffle with 6 hubcaps each. LEAKS FIXED! DONE!

Also built a workbench power supply to check my wiring. It produces 12V @ 32A, 5V @ 8A, and 3.3V @ 5A. So it will power the plane without a battery.

I’m taking the wings to MY hangar this week! Oh and I ordered the fuselage kit on October 22. Crating date is 1/7/2019, so expecting delivery mid January. Hmm, guess I’ll work on home chores for the next two months 😏

Here’s my pictures of the last two months …

September 5, 2018 Build time 16.0 Total time 453.0

So gap fairings are now installed. Thought I would start the ailerons. Cut the stiffeners and cleaned them up. No work on Labor Day just cleaned my area so I could show off to family and friends what an airplane factory looks like! 😂

So Tuesday I back riveted stiffeners after I dimpled the skins and stiffeners. Then I went to trial fit the skins and … STUPID ME didn’t verify I had the right skins or the right sides. Well, two of the skins I dimpled and installed the stiffeners on the wrong side. So I tell myself that sometimes mistakes are made on the production floor at aircraft plants and production must go on. I ordered two new skins from Van’s and set the ailerons aside and started the flaps. Learn from this and build ON!

August 25, 2018 Build time 0 Total time 421.0

Got an official EAA technical counselor visit on Saturday. They poured over the wings looking for problems. None found! And it was a good time swapping stories of building.

August 28, 2018 Build time 16.0 Total time 437.0

Spent the last two long days getting my aileron and flap hinges installed. Also accomplished SB 16 on the inboard aileron hinges. Lots of drilling, deburring, and priming. Used a rivet cutter for the first time. My new best friend for drilling flap brackets…..

August 24, 2018, Build time 0 Total time 421.0

No real airplane work this week, however, built the wing cradle and transported the wing rack to a fellow builder in Irving. Also mounted the engine on the stand. Plus my AC in the garage failed due to a thunderstorm power surge. That got fixed this week too. Next week onward with the build!

August 17, 2018 Build time 8.0 Total time 421.0

I know it’s been awhile. Been on the road to the East Coast picking up these …

Also, seeing old friends and relatives, also did some flying …

So that’s Fannie, Ellen, Betty and Beka getting stuff together for a little party. That’s Dusty, my old friend and best man, CFII, A&I, and so much more. We went off the coast of Delaware to do a reef survey. Here’s Rehoboth Beach on a Sunday! No thanks!

So since I’ve been back, been sick mostly. Don’t care to build when I don’t feel good. Feeling better, got some work done the last couple of days. Finished up riveting the top skins, built wing cradle so I can get the wing frame to a fellow builder in Irving next week…

July 28, 2018 Build time 44.0 Total time 413.0

Spent the entire week cleaning up the wing skins, dimpling, deburring. So the left wing is skinned and riveted. With the help of my lovely riveting assistant! Thank you Phyllis! This week heading to the East coast to pick up my prop and engine.

July 16, 2018 Build time -16.0 hrs Total time -369.0 hrs

Tanks are DONE! Messy tedious work. Waiting for the cure. Blow up balloons on Friday. Oh, I bought an O320 and a Catto prop on Saturday. Great price, couldn’t pass it up, just one problem, they are on the east coast. ROAD-TRIP!

July 12, 2018 Build time 16.0 Total time 353.0

Prosealed all the ribs and end ribs. Riveting done. More Proseal coming Monday. Back baffle and tank sender going in Monday.

July 10, 2018 – Build time 8 hrs – Total time 337.0

Put in a solid 8 hrs today learning to handle the Proseal. Frankly, the blue painters tape, I found to be totally useless. Application of the Proseal in it’s provided caulk gun containers makes masking totally unnecessary. I just have to pick up the speed tomorrow. Tomorrow’s goal is finish out the ribs. Then get the back baffles on before Friday.

July 9, 2018 – Build time 32.0 Hrs. Total time 329.0

Short build week last week, only 24 hrs last week. 8 hrs today. Last week was spent prepping the tank ribs and doing internal works. Today was spent prepping the tank skins, deburring, dimpling, scuffing the proseal tracks. Tomorrow proseal ready!