Time is moving quickly, but wanted to put an update out to tell everyone that I am still here and building away. The summer was productive but less than I had thought. A few vacations, and less building than I wanted due to lack of a second set of hands.
Update on the project:
Top skins are complete, and riveted on. I still have around ten rivets to drill out and fix but the skins are on. Was not painful at all. I found that depending on the level of skill I had with the other person I ended up using a combination of back riveting as well as conventional flush riveting with a bar. The Cleavland tools large back rivet bar came in handy and the small tungsten bar also worked well. There were times where the 3.5 rivets felt a bit too short but everything specs out well and while a few of them are ugly, they do appear safe.
I was unable to get the j-channel to line up well on the right wing. The rivet holes all lined up well however the bent portion appeared to have a different profile on one of the pieces. Sterling at Vans thought this was strange but after looking at the pictures told me he thought it would be fine as it is just a stiffner and I did not have to preload it to rivet it together.
I have started the leading edges as well, and am already starting to think towards the dreaded tank building which looks like is going to be my winter project at the rate things are going. That may work out well considering I am away many of the weekends in the winter skiing so that gives time for the proseal to set up prior to riveting.
Having fun, but I will say that the wings are a looooooong process with lots of repetition.
