UPDATE: I was past the point of attaching the bottom skin when this suggestion arrived, but, it is a good one. Before attaching the bottom skin, perform Step 1 on Page 28-06. Attach the fuel line bulkhead fitting NOW! You will not be sorry!! It is extremely easy to do now. If you wait, it will take 2 people and is not the easiest to install if you wait.
Took the entire day to prep, deburr, prime the mating surfaces, attach the nutplates and rivet the bottom fuselage skin and stiffeners. Wish I had an air cleco tool!!
All went relatively well. Suggest cleco'ing the skin to both the left and right side at the corner skins first. I initially did not do this and had to remove all of the clecos and start over. The skin just did not fit right. Had to use the awl quite a bit, especially at the corner skins. Did not have to touch drill any of the holes, but, again the awl is a needed tool here. Ensure you peek thru the lightening holes to ensure no tabs have been bent and all rib flanges have been picked up.
You may notice in my pictures that one of the stiffeners appears to be primed. Initially primed the wrong surface and had to paint both sides of that part.
There are also several holes in the skin that do not get rivets. (Because there is nothing under the skin to rivet the skin to.) One, a #30, curiously is under the flaperon mixing assembly (and it is NOT shown on the figure). All must be used in the future.
Flipped the fuselage over and it is now right side up. Had the garage door open today for the first time in a long time. Was near 60 degrees this afternoon.
Time - 7 hours
