11/01/2008 - 4 Hours 
Drilled the tailwheel weldment to the bulkheads and then formed the spacer:

Assembled the aft fuselage:


11/03/2008 - 3 Hours
Liv was sick today so I stayed home with her. Didn't get to start anything in the garage until she took a nap late in the afternoon. I installed the tail cone and then plumbed the aft fuse by attaching the plumb bobs as the plans state to and then shimming the fuse on the saw horses. Time consuming but easy. After all that was done, I drilled the J channels.
Tail cone:

Level and plumb:
The level isn't shown, I couldn't get a good in focus shot of the bubble. Anyway, just lay it flat on top of the side skins at various places and get it level. The plunge bob is showing the lineup with the centerline rivets of the bulkheads.

Drilled J's:


11/05/2008 - 1.5 Hours
Match drilled all holes except where stated not to. Also started on the rudder stops. Pics of these coming soon after I finish them.

11/06/2008 - 1 Hour
Finished up the rudder stops.


 
11/07/2008 - 2.5 Hours
Started the debur, dimple and prime process for the aft fuselage. Deburred the side skins, j channels and tail cone assembly.

11/10/2008 - 1.5 Hours
Continued the process above. Nothing exciting. All deburring is done and 1 side panel has been dimpled.

11/11/2008 - 2 Hours
Dimpling complete. Next up is priming.

11/12/2008 - 1.5 Hours
Primed components (including j channels but no pics). Clecoed structure back together.



11/13/2008 - 2 Hours
Drilled tail wheel weldment to bulkhead to final size, deburred, Clecoed tailcone assembly together and riveted. This went smooth! I borrowed my buddy Chad's tungsten bucking bar. Man that thing rocks! If you don't have one... go buy one now!



 11/15/2008 - 2 Hours
Riveted the bottom skin (back rivited most of it) with Mitch and my Hottie Wife Jo.

Mitch removed the cleco's as Jo inserted the rivets as well as held the bucking bar. I was underneath running the rivet gun. A number had to be set with usual method. Not a lot though. 


11/16/2008 - 3 Hours
Riveted the right side of the aft fuselage.

11/17/2008 - 1.5 Hours
Improved my method of riveting so it only took 1.5 hrs to do the left side. All is complete except the right side rudder stop which I will get the next time I'm in the shop.


11/19/2008 - 2 Hours
Happy Birthday to my Bro Jerry!
Riveted on the right side rudder stop.
Started on the center section of the fuse. Fab'd the F-916 spacers and then moved onto the ribs. Had to cut out a section per plans on F716-L and R and then fit F-716B. I am doing this on an extra set of ribs just outboard of the two above that way I don't have to take apart the control column to install it. It can be installed all as one piece. This means that I had to fab two more 716B's.


11/21/2008 - 4 Hours
Took the day off to get some work done in the garage as I will have no time this weekend due to a swim meet for Liv and Mitch. I spent the day drilling, deburring and riviting the platenuts onto the seat ribs.

Assembled the center fuse.


11/24/2008 - 1.5 Hours
Drilled the bottom skin to the ribs and bulkheads.
Trimmed down F623-L to fit and then drilled to the center bottom skin:


11/26-11/29/2008 - 6 Hours

Made the 623 attachment parts.

Machine countersunk the bottom skin to 704H per plans. Well actually to the FAQ on Van's website.

Drilled 704H to the 704 bulkhead. Took everything apart and started the long laborious part of deburring and dimpling.
Some pics before taking it apart... Olivia working on drilling holes...


11/30/2008 - 4 Hours

Primed the ribs. Riveted/bolted the skeleton together.