Small steps... but moving forward is what counts!

I apologize to my regular followers that I haven't posted much lately.  End of June and beginning of July are a very busy time for our family, between the kids finishing the school year, birthdays, anniversaries, fireworks shows.... there hasn't been much time for shop.

I did manage to make some progress yesterday when I freed up a full day in the shop.

The work continues on the 701 wing repair.  I finally got the final riveting complete on the rear channels, root rib and tip and fuel bay area.  All squared up ready for a modified (again) fuel tank support channel:

Squared up and ready to rivet

Getting everything lined up and square is a real pain when working within the bounds of what the previous builder left behind, but it eventually went together okay.  Lots of tight places to try and fit the pneumatic riveter!

Correct gauge rear channel with rivet size and layout as per the plans (not randomly placed like the original)

Root rib and root tip rib riveted in place. The small white bracket still needs to be added across the end of the spar from the root tip to root rib.

The tip rib is fastened to the spar and through to the root rib by two A5 rivets. According to the plans, the top most hole also uses the same A5 rivet, but the plans don't seem to account for the extra thickness created by the wing attach point.  I'll have to have another look at the plans and check with Ron.  I'm almost of the mindset to buck a solid rivet in there - always go better than the plans in any modification made.

Root tip rib detail - 2nd hole from the top is currently clecoed, awaiting a decision on what type of rivet to use.

With this section repair almost complete, we'll be moving on to the wing tip extension Ron has planned for this 701.

In addition to the 701 repairs and modifications, I've been slowly making parts for my 750 in anticipation of starting my tail group in a couple of weeks.  Lots of tracing, rough cutting, trimming and final debur/sanding.

Horizontal stabilizer tip rib blanks, final cut awaiting debur/sanding.

Seat belt attachment brackets and flapperon splice plates complete and ready for inventory. These aren't tail group parts, but it often makes sense to complete items as they fit on the sheet of raw aluminum of the same thickness. You are already tracing and cutting anyhow, why not get stuff done at the same time.

There won't be any shop time for the next couple of weeks as we head east on a camping trip.  I've made contact with a guy in Quebec who is selling a bunch of aluminum sheet and angle extrusions.  I hope to stop at his place on the way home and pick up a bunch of materials at a discount rate.

Thanks for reading, back in the shop soon!