29-09: Prepping side skins & Fuselage Side Components

The side skins were deburred and some of the edges broken as per the plans. I made sure to keep the skin edges where the NACA vents will be located as square as possible, without being sharp. The skins were then cleaned, etched and primed. Following priming they were dimpled. I cleaned, etched and primed the outside of the skins where the wings will be located, as well as where the tailcone skins will overlap. 

As per the plans, the top aft corner was chamfered. 

 

Setup on the driveway for cleaning and etching the skins - i think this is the biggest skin of the kit so far.

I masked off where the wing will attach, as well as where the tailcone skins will overlap.

Fuselage Sides Parts Prep

There was a large number of parts which makeup the fuselage side structure. I decided to read ahead and prepare all parts needed for the fuselage sides at the same time. I then split them into 2, and cleaned etched and primed these in 2 batches. Once cured, they were dimpled as required by the plans. 

Fuselage side plates were clecod together to give some support for the countersink pilot when doing the #40 holes.

The lower drag fitting was cleco'd in place when doing the larger #30 holes - the thickness of the skin in this location was *just* enough to stop knife-edge - but i would imagine the tool would have chattered quite a bit without the backing of the lower drag fittings. 

The gap left between these parts was quite tight - you have to be careful with the bandsaw. Not that the width tolerance is critical of course.

Spot on!

I used tape to mark the chamfer called out in the plans

And just filed to the tape.

I'm pretty sure this cut-out is just to get access to the rivet below..

Not all the parts done in one day, but getting there.

Side parts ready for priming.

Batch 1 parts after cleaning and etching.

Ready for priming

Primed

Batch 2 parts