Quantcast
Channel: F-712 Bulkhead – Ethan's RV-7
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9

Aft Fuselage Riveting Started (3/25/12)

0
0

3.3 Hours –

I’ve had some other projects to work on, so the plane hasn’t been touched for a couple of weeks.  However, today, I finally got around to starting the aft fuselage final assembly.

First, I started working on the F-779/F-711/F-712/WD-409 assembly.  The plans are relatively specific about the order in which these parts are riveted, so I decided it was best to follow the instructions.  The first step was to rivet the F-712 bulkhead to the F-779 bottom skin.  The aft rivets could all be squeezed, as could some of the forward rivets, but I had to pull out the gun and assorted bucking bars for the rest of the forward rivets.  Due to the poor fit of these parts (as I’ve complained about many times before), the riveting was a bit tricky at times.  Needless to say, it got done!

Once the F-712 bulkhead was riveted to the bottom skin, I riveted the WD-409 tailspring weldment to the F-712 using the two keeper-rivets previously drilled.

The F-712 bulkhead riveted to the F-779 bottom skin. The tailspring weldment is also attached with two keeper rivets.

Next, the F-711 bulkhead was slid into place and riveted to the bottom skin.  Almost all the rivets had to be shot/bucked, and some of the ones near the tailspring weldment were a bit tricky to buck.  I think I used every bucking bar I own.  Once the bulkhead was riveted, I bolted the WD-409 weldment to the F-711.  These bolts shouldn’t have to be removed again, so I torqued them and applied inspection lacquer at this time.

After riveting the F-711 bulkhead to the bottom skin, I torqued and marked the nuts on the WD-409 tailspring weldment.

At this point, it was time to, once again, reassemble the aft fuselage structure.  It isn’t hard to assemble, but it takes a lot of clecoes and time, so it’s not much fun!  I did stray from the plans a bit here.  The plans say to reassemble the entire structure and then rivet, but I decided to cleco the bulkheads and J-channels in place, then rivet the bulkheads to the bottom skin before attaching the side skins.  My reasoning is simple, I could rivet the bulkheads solo with the skins off…with the skins on, I would need to find a partner.

I riveted the bulkheads to the bottom skin and then clecoed the side skins to the bulkheads/bottom skin.  Since everything went back together perfectly, I think it is safe to say that my alteration of the plans worked out OK.  It took me a long time to get the side skins clecoed back on, so I decided to call it a day.  Next session, I’ll see how much of the structure I can rivet solo.  If there are rivets I can’t reach, I think my wife, Amber, is going to get her first lesson in bucking rivets!

I started riveting the bulkheads to the bottom skin.

The aft fuselage got clecoed together one last time.


Filed under: Aft Fuselage, Construction, Fuselage Tagged: aft fuselage, F-711 Bulkhead, F-712 Bulkhead, fuselage, Rivet, RV-7, WD-409

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images