Top Wing Skins (Left) 16-3-1 to 16-4-4

I was able to clear some space in my garage after finishing the tail cone assembly, and moved on to installing the left wing top skins.

Following the same steps I had gone through to attach the right wing top skins, I began by spending some additional time making sure the wing spar was level (not bowed or twisted). I was the able to easily cleco on the top skins and the inboard rib nutplates.

Left wing spar leveled and clamped

Top skins clecoed to left wing spars and ribs. All parts lined up really well.

Inboard rib nutplates clecoed in place

My daughter and I then started riveting the top skins to the left wing skeleton as we had previously done for the right wing, staring from the center of the outboard top skin working radially outwards.

The beginning of left wing top skin riveting

Outboard top left wing skin riveted to the outboard end

Once most of the outboard top skin was riveted on, we started riveting the inboard top skin working out from the center again.

Making progress on the inboard top skin

Skin rivets over the rear spar doubler took a bit more care to set, but came out well

With the outboard top skin in place I was also able to rivet the outboard aileron hinge bracket to the outboard rib (first) and rear spar (second).

Outboard aileron hinge bracket riveted on

Shop heads holding the outboard aileron hinge bracket look good after bucking. I riveted to the outboard rib first to avoid clearance issues which would occur if bucking the bracket to rear spar rivets first

The inboard top wing skin riveting went relatively quickly, and I was able to set the inboard skin to rib rivets, along with nutplates, easily using the pneumatic squeezer.

Countersunk rivets over the wing walk doublers came out well

All nutplates attached to the inboard rib and skin

Last five skin to rear spar rivets were tight but set well using a tungsten bar that has a 45 degree face

With the inboard skin riveted to the inboard end of the wing, the end of top skin riveting is in sight and we moved on to completing riveting in the area where the skins overlap.