February 5, 2006

Other things that needed to be done before the wings go on were the tank brackets, and the gussets to the spar.

Here I have drilled the lower hole for the bracket. The upper one was done a long time ago. There isn’t a lot of room for a nut on the inside, because the angle only leaves a narrow channel. This means that you have to pretty much centre the bolts, otherwise you can’t get on it with a socket.

Once the tank brackets were done, I went on to the gussets. These are something that may be easy to forget, so I’ve had them in a strategic place to keep reminding myself to put them in! I had to trim them a bit to clear a rivet in the spar bulkhead, but then they fit fine. I put the spar bolt in to hold them in place and match drilled them to the fuselage, starting with a #40, working up to a 3/16" (hence the gold clecos).

Here’s the inside of the left gusset. It’s quite difficult to get the inner big spar bolt in and out because of the turned up lip on the gusset, but it’s not as bad as it is for those building a nose wheel. At least I can see what I’m doing here.

And just for the hell of it, the right side. I really need to vacuum in here!