Alex's Vans RV-10 Build Log

Continuing on in section 28, with the fwd fuselage bulkhead subassembly clecoed in place, I finished test fitting the landing gear mounts to determine if any additional trimming of the exit hole in the bottom skin was required. I ended up enlarging the hole slightly with a needle file to ensure a perfect fit to the landing gear mount with zero rubbing. Landing gear mount fits well after small adjustments to the skin exit hole Minimal filing was required around the exit hole, but some was necessary due to the hole being slightly too small in places Same trimming was done to the hole for the left landing gear mount At this time I also decided to dimple the called-out holes in fwd cabin floor panels so that they would be ready for priming. I also countersunk the holes in the bottom flange of the center section side plates to accommodate the skin dimples.   Floor panel holes dimpled and panels are ready for priming Side plate bottom flange holes countersunk, with special attention for ...

I decided to make a start on section 28 prior to riveting any firewall parts. This will allow me to assemble much of the bottom forward fuselage, and then figure out mods that I will need to make to accommodate things like the SDS EFI system that I am planning to install. Forward fuse rib and bulkhead parts The first steps in this section require separating angles and assembling the forward seat rail supports. Forward seat rail supports clecoed after countersinking nutplate attach holes as required Screw holes and nutplate attach holes being countersunk in the bulkhead side channels Next I began working on the control column mounts. these require match drilling bolt holes into the mounts and trimming away a fair amount of material. First bolt hole being drilled into the control column mount at the required position using the drill press Initial bolt holes drilled into both mounts. Here you also see the material removed from the mount on the left, and prior to removal on the right The b...

While working around my daughter's school schedule to slowly rivet the bottom skins to the mid fuselage, I decided to start work on the firewall. After reading stories of other builders easily cutting themselves on the sharp edges of the firewall stainless steel, the first thing I did was to debur all edges and holes in the firewall and recess. The V-shaped deburring bit did a good job of cleaning the edges of the firewall flanges and larger hole edges. I used Boelube paste every few minutes to minimize dulling of the deburring bit. The standard hole deburring bit worked well to debur rivet holes in the stainless steel, but I did have to push harder to get the bit to bite the edge. Boelube was also used regularly here, however, I did decide to purchase a new deburring bit for future aluminum use and keep this one only for use on steel The edge deburring bit worked well enough to debur within the flange notches. However, as with the other deburring bits I used on steel, I'll ded...