My pressure sensors finally arrived!  I'm stoked to experiment with these models as I believe they have the measurement resolution and electrical specs for my Arduino fuel gauge solution.

First up, unboxing and evaluation.  First thing out of the box I was really surprised at how large they are.  It didn't have any physical measurements on the ordering page, but I had the mistaken impression from the pictures online they would be somewhat smaller and lighter, similar to the 10psi sensor I ordered initially.  the new one is larger, a bit heavier (not unreasonably so) and doesn't come with an integrated cable:

They will still fit my application space, but I'll probably need to consider some sort of mounting bracket to secure it with the fuel line.  Overall build quality seems real good.  Two sensors, exact same spec, just like I ordered - 1.5psi, 1/4 inch NPT thread connection, 0.5V to 4.5V output:

Looking closer at the electrical connection end, standard cable compression sleeve entry and what appears to be a small screw holding the cap on the top:

Backing out the screw I thought would allow the cap to come off to reveal the electrical connections inside.....

........but the cap is actually a full 4 prong indexed plug on it's own - the machine screw secures the cap/connector to the sensor body.  I like that in the design!

Another nice design detail is the rubber gasket on the bottom of the connector, protecting the joint with the sensor.

The terminal block pops out of the cap to reveal good quality screw terminals which are numbered to co-incide with the pin outs on the lable of the sensor.  #1 for 5V+, #2 for sensor circuit ground and #3 for output signal.  There is a 4th terminal with a electrical ground symbol - I suspect this is for sensor body ground, but I'll need to test to be sure: 

I do know I need a better and more scientific set up for true testing and calibration, but here's what I did tonight to try it out.  I used the same poly tube and connections as I did the for 10psi sensor tested previously.  I slowly added water to the tube (in the upright position) and monitored the sensor connected to the Arduino micro-controller.  Using the same Arduino script as before, it is clear to me this sensor is not only much better suited range wise to what I need (1.5 psi vs 10psi), it also seems the output signal is much more stable.  I suspect this output stability is part build quality and part correct range specific, but I'm happy where this experiment and my related theory is headed.  The photo doesn't capture the graphed output on the laptop, sorry.  I'll try and get some screen captures when my test method/system improves.

Still much testing to prove the effectiveness of this method for measuring fuel tank quantity to come.  This is another example of stuff I'm learning on this journey :)

Delayed time getting into the shop this week.  Couple of busy and long days at work left me no energy for plane building (shocker really), and then my first CoVid vaccine (Moderna) kicked my ass for a day and half.  Back in the shop on Sunday, but limited energy so things moved kinda slow.

Started the day pulling off the upper skin and deburring all the ribs, triling edge skins and upper wing skins:

Let the nose skin back up a bit to deburr it as well:

Clecoed the skin back down and pulled the A4 rivets for the wing stiffeners.  Taking the skin off for inspection later won't be an issue having these complete so got them done:

Primed the edge of the upper wing skin where the tank skin will join over top:

Primed the root support L - did it in grey primer as it will show through the join in the tank and root skins:

Rolled out the nose skin again and applied a bit more green primer that got scuffed up a bit when I was cutting and deburring the slat support slots:

I wanted to strengthen the wing tip plastic so that when it gets riveted to the wing the rivets tails won't pull through or worse crack the plastic.  Several builders reinforce this area using 016 strips around the perimeter and I did the same.  First though I wanted to back the area where the wing tip nav-lights mount for much the same reasons.  I don't know at this point if the nav-light will be riveted or screwed through the plastic, so I made a doubler plate out of 025.  Had to rough it out then use the bench sander to trim it down until it fit inside the form to lay completely flat:

Once I had the first one, I made a second one the same for the left wing:

Next up, I went about cutting some scrap 016 into strips to match the inside edge widths of the wing tips.  This took some time and I had to break the perimeter into several manageable sections due to the complex curves of the nose section:

This is the hardest section.  The inside edge not only narrows dramatically, but curves sharply inwards at the same time.  I used a cardstock template clipped on to the edge area, tracing the outer inside edge first:

Carefully flipping it over, I then traced the outside edge (which is the inner edge inside the tip):

This very rough size cardstock template is what I ended up with:

Trimmed out with scissors, I continued to trim it down until I was satisfied with the fit when pinned to the inside curve of the wingtip:

Traced out on 016 scrap and the tail end was left purposely long as I can adjust the length of the next piece easier than fussing with this one:

All the edge pieces, deburred and edge sanded smooth.  Inside surfaces scuffed up with 150 grit sandpaper and cleaned with lacquer thinner.  More scuff than required for primer, something for the EkoBond adhesive to grab onto:

Being new at using this stuff, I decided to do the nav-light backing plate first.  EkoBond on both surfaces after scuffing up both with 150 grit sandpaper:

You have to be careful as the grip is very strong once it starts to get tacky - not much room to re-position once in place, but I got it where I wanted first try:

In hindsight, I probably overdid it with the clamps, but happy with how it turned out:

Overnight curing and that plate isn't coming out!

Same process for each of the strips.  I was smart enough to number them to match them up when the time came to place them.  If you look close, you can see streaks of blue in the green on the lower left where the EkoBond is still setting up (turning green like the rest):

Started with the complex curves near the nose first then trimmed the long straight pieces at the trailing edge end where needed.  Several binder clip, spring clamps and clothes pins keep everything clamped together while it cures: 

Perimeter backing strips complete.  When I return to the shop on Wednesday night this will be cured and ready for final fit up on the outboard end of the wing.  Pulled rivets now have something to grab on:

Between steps (waiting for blue to go green), I got the inboard lower trailing edge trimmed using the Dremel and a cutoff wheel.  It's becoming my favourite tool it seems!

Good progress despite feeling like a bag of dirt the last couple of days.

My new pressure sensors arrived in my work mailbox today, so I'll have them shortly for testing.  I have high confidence in my theory of how they will work in the fuel system and how to read them using Arduino micro-controller and display.

Onwards...  thanks for reading.

p.s. - I'd be wrong not to mention the passing of Chris Heintz, designer of Zenith Aircraft who passed away a couple of days ago, peacefully with his wife at his side.  His legacy in aviation stretches from work on the Concorde (yes THAT Concorde) to starting a small aircraft plans business that has grown over 40 years to become the Zenith Aircraft Company, the makers of the aircraft design I am building.  His contributions to this hobby and general aviation as a sport can not be overstated.  Such a kind and humble soul.

Blue skies and tailwinds Chris - and thank you for making dreams possible for people like me :)

This build is like a Dr. Seuss rhyme sometimes, repetitive and fun but smoothly flowing along.

Been a over a week since my last blog post.  I got to the shop for a couple of evening visits and weekend day, so progress continues.  Home internet has been flaky until tonight, so I've been saving pictures and updates for this post.

Now that the nose skin is fit, I needed to figure out a way to line up the slits in the nose skin where the slat pick-ups protrude through from the nose ribs.  The lower half of the nose skin is already rivetted to the spar so I have to cut those slots with the skin still attached.

 I started by laying the skins flat at the edge of the workbench:

Here is a slat pick-up at the outboard end of the wing, clecoed into it's spot on the rib.  I chose this one to do first to prove out the plan for making the slots - there is only one pick-up through the outer nose skin, making manipulation of the skin easier.

Carefully measuring the slat pick-up in it's final position tells me the bottom edge at the rib is 70mm infront of the front most lower rib rivet.  The top edge of the slat pick-up is 160mm from the front most lower rib rivet - that means the total length of the slot around the curve of the nose rib is 90mm, starting at the 70mm mark:

With the knowledge the nose rib is perfectly square to the spar (I double checked), I took out the top cleco and simply tilted the pick-up forward and down to establish the location of the slot referenced to the rib:

A ruler confirms the extended line paralell from the rib matches the slat pick-up

Here are the measurements sketched out on the inside of the nose skin along that extended reference line.  This will be the location of the slot:

I doubled the line to the width of the slat pick-up.  This thin rectangle will be the bounds of the slot:

An A4 hole gets drilled at each end, then the slot is cut out with a Dremel tool:

​To prove the measurement is correct, re-attached the slat pick-up to the nose rib, then I re-wrapped the outboard nose skin back and secured it to the spar and nose rib.  The slot fit is tight, but if careful I can slip the nose skin over the pick-up - it lines up very nicely!

All the rivet holes in the nose skin still need to be deburred as does the slot, but very happy my head scratching over this paid off:

With the knowledge my method works, I final rivetted the nose skin support Ls in place on all 3 slat supports at their nose ribs:

All the fitting of the slat supports done previously were done to a template when off the wing, and the slot holes should be in the same places, but I measured each to be sure and they were indeed the same.  So I repeated the process for the two inner ones:

Slots for the outer 3 cut and fit up real nice once the skin was wrapped over and secured again:

The inboard slat pick-up by the wing root does need a slot - the nose skin wraps to one side.  The root nose skin is attached on the other side of it:

Final sized the trailing edge to the rear channels, and add the joining rivets where the trailing edges overlap:

Took the wingtip out and trimmed the upper skin and trailing edge.  This still needs some more trimming once the wing tip it final fit - lots more to come on that front.

This is the open fuel tank bay.  I took the bay cover off to assess fuel tank fit in preparation for building them, lots to plan for here.

Sitting down with a cold drink of water, I couldn't help admire the symmetry of a wing being built and wonder hole many holes/clecoes and rivets I've done so far!

Right sized the nose skin rivet holes up to A4:

Started adding the requisite 4 rivets into the support L behind the nose skin at the slat pick-ups.  These will eventually be A4 size, but I need to find the long drill bits for the middle two!

Took this picture of the wing structure looking in from the wingtip.  Just noticed a smiling man-in-the-moon face looking back at me way from the other end!

Nose skin, nice and tight to the nose ribs and rivets holes properly spaced:

Took the trailing edge clecos out, deburred them and the rear channels.  Then laid out some newspaper for priming the edge that will tuck under the upper wing skin:

As I been pondering fuel tanks, I been thinking on how to plumb them to incorporate the pressure sensors now on their way from where I ordered them.  I recieved some other plumbing parts this week.  From right to left - tank flange, finger strainer, 3/8NPT-AN6 swivel adapter, AN6 "T" with 1/4NPT takeoff and (for now) brass 1/4NPT union to join to the sensor when it arrives.  I'll likely swap out the unions for blue anodized aluminum to match the rest:

All the fittings loosely together - all joints will be tighter and sealed with fuel safe joint sealer once installed:

The other part of my order arrived too.  I plan on brazing the tank sides and skins together and the fittings using aluminum brazing rod.  I ordered this highly recommended brand:

These rods essentially work like solder, but at a much higher strength and temperature.  The rods melt at a temperature much below the melting point of aluminum, so you heat the pieces you want to join and flow this into the joint, then let it cure (solidify).  I've haven't done this before, so I'm certainly looking forward to trying it, learning and making my own fuel tanks!  Trying to figure out how to capture that process on video to share it.

Progress, but so many little details.  It's hard not to feel bogged down, but this blog helps remind me how far I've come on the build and my learning.

Thanks for following along, stay tuned for more!

Seems like it took forever for Saturday to get here, despite being off work on Easter Monday.

I decided to pull out the fuel tank side for the right wing and start test fitting the finger strainer.  Fuel tank assembly will have to be done soon.   If you recall from when I made the tank sides, I made sure to mark the location of the fuel outlet hole.  Shown below is the outside of the tank wall.  The flange on the tank actually faces outward for welding:

The finger strainers I was given are actually the large size, the plans call for small or regular size.  This doesn't change anything with regards to operation, the fuel lines will still be the same size.

I placed the finger strainer directly over the outlet port mark and it will fit fine (it's facing the wrong direction in the picture, the mesh goes inside the tank):

Here is a better look after I flipped over the tank side (now showing the inside of the tank wall):

The welding flange that the finger strainer screws into is too wide to fit and keep the strainer close to the bottom edge of the tank.....

Here the complete assembly roughly laid out.  The strainer screws in through the threaded mount flange from the other side with just the mesh  inside the tank:

If I trim off a bit on the bandsaw I can get it even closer to the bottom of the tank and still leave enough for welding and threading in the strainer.  This will be done when I get the rest of the fittings for drains, etc., and I can assemble the tanks for welding.

Picked up some new ratchet straps and started the process to wrap the nose skins:

This is a very familiar process which i used on the horizontal stab, flapperons and slats.  Long boards help spread the wrapping force equally across the skins:

I still need to figure out how I'm going to cut the slots in the nose skin for the slat brackets.  The one at root is exposed so I'm going to use it as the example and copy the measurements across to the other three moving outboard from the root.  It will take some time, but I'm confident it will work.

This was my first chance to see if the template I made for the outboard nose skin matched up to the wing tip.  ​Here is a look at the wingtip in place.  The curving edge of the nose skin fits very well!

I still need to trim the upper skin still and the trailing edge to match properly.  Again, the template I made is a great help:

I still need to finish drilling the nose skin at the spar, but the outboard double ow of rivets on the spar tip is done to A3.  I also have the first rivets in the nose ribs along the nose skins.  I have enough in there now to release the ratchet straps:

The long boards will stay in place for now until I finish drilling out the nose skin/ribs and at the spar.  But it looks even more like a wing now!

More to come!  Thanks for following along!

Couple of hours in the shop today, continuing on fit up of the wing tip.

First up, I wanted to trim the wing tip a bit smoother.  I marked the extent of the trimming out with masking tape and cut the line carefully with the Dremel tool, including some minor trimming at the trailing edge taper.  Clamping it to the bench with wood screws and scraps of shim worked well.  I put a container of clecos behind it to prop it up a bit:

I don't have some after pictures, but once trimmed back to the tape, I used some sandpaper to smooth everything out: 

The plans ask for some standard L to be attached to the end of the spar tip and rear channel.  I wasn't happy that would be wide enough to support the wing tip, so I made a custom wide L from some scrap 025 I had:  Drilled the A3 pilot holes in the L:

Then I used finger clamps to hold it in place and back drilled through the spar tip, then upsized them to A4

​The L's support the back of the wing tip.

The rear channel area is a bit tight and I mis-drilled the L at this location.  It needs to sit more proud of the channel than shown below, so I made a new one (not shown).  I also had to grind a bit off the tip of the rear channel so it could be inserted inside the wing tip far enough:

The wing tip now sits in the correct position.  I was concerned that the nose skin would properly wrap around the nose of the wing tip, but everything measures up correct, so it should be good.   I'm not final riveting the wing tip in place until the top skins, trailing edge and nose skins are complete.

I laid out the rivet line across the outboard lower skin and pilot drilled the holes to A3.  I also roughly scribed a line across the inside of the upper outboard skin.  This will need further trimming, but I've been fighting with it a bit when putting the wing tip in an out.

Knowing the outboard nose skin will fit correctly once it is wrapped around, I finished off the spar and nose rib rivets in this section:

I left the last outboard rib and spar rivets un-done in case I need to slip the outboard main lower skin out of place.  These will get done once the wing tip is in final rivet:

The wing tip looks real nice in place now that both outoard skins a trimmed closer to what they will look kine.  I still need to trim the trailing edge both lower and upper to match the wing tip.  Before I drill the rivet holes for the wingtip, I want to back it somehow to prevent the pulled rivets from cracking the plastic.  I was thinking some small flat washers on the tail side of the rivet, but I think instead I'll run a narrow strip of 016 aluminum along the inside and drill through the plastic and the strip as a backer.  I also think this is a good spot to use a hand puller instead of a pneumatic gun:

I mentioned yesterday, I wasn't entirely happy with the grip length of an A5 rivet in this hole.  I drilled out the A5 and will replace it with an A6 which has a longer grip length.

My testing of the 10 PSI pressure transducer that I ordered is going well, however I found the resolution of the 0 to 10 PSI sensor to be to large a range for what I need.  I found some 0 to 1.5 PSI ones online last week at a "decent" price so I pulled the trigger and ordered a couple.  I'm looking forward to testing them as I believe this will be the solution I'm looking for to measure fuel tank levels.

Next up, some final work on the lower surface of the right wing, including some cleaning of the aluminum.  Then the wing gets flipped right side up for nose skin wrapping and trailing edge set up.

More to come this week.. Thanks for following along!

Easter weekend is here already.  This CoVid BS is getting real tiring, but at least the nicer weather is here.

Spent a "Good Friday" in the shop, working on the right wing.  I was going to leave the rear root doubler clecoed in place and finalize it later, but I decided the fuel routing can still be done with it in place.  I staggered the clecos and pulled the last of the A5 rivets in the rear channel face:

I final riveted the root nose rib into place and added the splice plate.  I also final torqued the spar pick-up plate bolts:

I added and final torqued the wing strut attach angle bolts top and bottom where they go through the spar caps.  The first picture shows the A4-7 bolts that hold the spar pick up attachment that are yet to be installed (I put them there to remind me they are coming up soon):

With the bolts all installed along the fron spar, I reattached the lower skins in preparation for final rivets, including the freshly primed wing stiffeners  -I won't be rolling the lower skins anymore, this is final assembly on the wing skeleton:

Couldn't resist adding in the wing tip again to see how it's going to look and also figure out the trailing edge:

I'll have to do some more thinking on how to trim this up.  There is a large bulge at the trailing edge that will need to be trimmed away, but it's hollow so I want to make sure trimming it way isn't going to compromise it's integrity going forward or lead to cracking:

It's extra work, but I like to put clecos in any holes along a line of rivets that need to wait for a rivet.  It's a good reminder to think twice before pulling a rivet too soon in the process that would have to be drilled out later:

All the rivets along the rib lines and wing stiffener lines are done.  I left the perimeter of the skin at the main spar and along the trailing edge joint open as well as anything close to those as I may need the flexibility to reinstall the trailing edge where it tucks under the main skin.

Next up were the nose skins.  These need to be attached permanently as all the front strut attachments are riveted through them, the skins and the spar.

Strut support angle clecoed in place.  The hole where the strut pickup comes through the skin was already deburred at this point (I forgot to erase my Sharpie note).  This is a complicated joint which takes some thinking about order of operations to ensure rivets are done while the holes are exposed.

I clecoed the strut doubler in place and I got the two A4 rivets and the A5 spar rivet in the support angle done before adding the strut pickup and several others towards the rear.  Those two just in front of the spar line would be impossible to reach if the strut pick-up was bolted in place as well as the A5 on the angle to the left of them:

I slid the strut pick-up through the skin from the outside and had to carefully curl the skin back with a piece of twine to provide the work room to add the pick-up bolts.  The topmost bolt in the picture needs to feed the other way through the hole, otherwise the nut and tail of the bolt won't clear the skin when it lays flat.  These were then torqued to spec:

With the skin laid back down and riveted to the spar, I realized I should have done the other A5 rivets close to the spar pick-up.  It's way to narrow to get any rivet puller in there:

Only two A5 rivets had this issue, so I pulled them in the opposite direction.  Not ideal, but perfectly acceptable solution (I'll mark that down so the other wing looks the same!).  I also pulled the single A5 rivet just below the strut pick up hole - I think it might need to be replaced, I'm not sure it's long enough for a complete grip, maybe I'll up-size the hole to A6 here:

Really happy how this assembly turned out- tight and just like the plans describe.

​The slot I cut in the trailing edge to go over the rear strut pick-up worked perfectly as well, but is a real pain to to slide over the rear pick-up AND tuck under the main skin - it's just to tight to do easily.  I think I will be permanently attaching the trailing edge as well.  Adjustment up and down can be made when the top side of the trailing edge is tucked under the top skin.  There should be enough room to work in there from above for the fuel line routing as well:

​With the nose skin in place, I can add the front jury strut pick-up:

Finished of the spar line rivets:

Pulled the A4 rivets on the lower side of the nose skin into the nose ribs where I could.

The wing is really starting to feel solid!  The front lower corner in the picture is where the wing root nose skin will reside.  It will be done after the top of the wing is completed.

I've decided to hold off a little longer on the outboard skin and the outboard nose skin until I can get a better idea on the trim and finish of the wing tip.  I still need to trim the outboard end of the trailing edge skin to match as well.

My second Monday night session at the shop was a productive one.  Three uninterrupted hours of build time and I got some good stuff done.

First up, I decided to go ahead and rivet the flap arms in place.  The three outboard arms follow the standard rivet head on thinnest material (in this case the ribs):

The inner-most flap arm sits inside the fuel tank bay.  In order to allow clearance for the fuel tank, the rivets are pulled with the head on the thick side of the joint here (the flap arm):

Rivet tails on flap side:

​Rivet heads on rib side:

Fuel tank bay is opposite - rivet heads on flap arm side of joint: 

All rivets double checked for correct pulled form.  Lots of strength here:

I decided it was time to start trimming up the wingtip and cut it out of the moulding material.

I tested the Dremel cutting wheel on waste edge first, it makes quick work of cutting out the wingtip from the form:

Here it is, rough cut out:

Careful use of the Dremel trims it down to the flat flange edges that will eventually tuck under the wing skin tips:

There are a couple of spots where the flange narrows around the point of the nose and at the trailing edge.  I was careful to leave lots of extra for fine trimming later:

I removed the skin stiffeners that were clecoed in place on the inside of the upper skin.  I can't believe how much drill debris (called swarf) that can fin it's way into the little spaces between parts.

A quick vacuum with the ShopVac and a soft brush attachment cleaned up most of it.

With things cleaned up, I slid the wing tip onto the end of the spar and rear channel.  I still need to make the support angles for each, but really happy how it's shaping up!

Neither the picture above or the one below capture how slanted the wing tip is.  The is on purpose and is for aerodynamic reasons (more on this in a future blog):

Finally tonight, I finished deburring the upper wing skin stiffeners, cleaned them and primed them.

They will go back on the upper skin once the wing is right-side-up.  For now, I'll leave them off until the upper skins are deburred, primed and not rolled up for storage.

Overall a good night.  Back on Wednesday for more.

​Thanks for reading :)

Full and productive day in the shop yesterday, but not a lot of pictures to share.

Started taking the nose and lower skins off the wing in preparation for deburring and priming.  If I'd only known how many holes there would be to deburr, I wouldn't have drilled so many!  Just kidding, but man there are a lot of holes to clean.

Lower outboard wing skin, deburred and primed.  This section is small enough to store flat, so I deburred, primed and riveted the skin stiffener in place.

Inboard nose skin deburred and primed.  I found it convenient to leave it on it's edge on the floor and roll along on the stool with the deburring tool.  Primed the areas using a sheet of newsprint held behind.  The lower edge shown will be primed later (didn't want to get primer on the carpet runner): 

 
Lower wing skin removed and flipped over for deburring.  Very pleased to see all rib holes are centered on the rib flanges and I don't have any elongated holes - bonus!  Once complete and primed, I rolled it up for storage until ready for re-assembly.

At this point I can begin the final riveting of the wing skeleton.  Removed nose ribs from the spar, deburred them and the holes in the spar and final riveted them to A5:

Next I finished the final rivets on the wing tie down ring (not pictured) and the rear channel, including the channel to ribs and the rear strut pickup.  This joint has seventeen A5 rivets and an AN3 bolt on the face of the rear channel alone - plus another eight A5 rivets once the skin is in place.  It's one heck of a stout assembly once it's in place:

Final riveting of the flapperon arms might wait until I have the lower skins on, or I might rivet them first.  It's probably better to do them now while I have unfettered (today's big word) access, so I'll do that before I rivet the skins on.

I'm getting closer to fitting up the wing tip.  I'll need to cut it out from the blow mold process that it is made from.  These are the ones I picked up in 2019 when Dad and I went to Montreal-St Hubert

I'll probably cut them out rough with a Dremel cutting wheel and leave enough of an edge that can be trimmed, sander later.  It will be easier to fit up with the wing upside down on the bench:

Still a bunch to do, but the wing is essentially ready for the skins to be added back and final riveted to the skeleton.  I need to add the support Ls at the spar and rear channel tips that support the wingtip.  Before I rivet the skins though, I also need to vacuum out all the drill and deburr debris so when I flip the wing over it doesn't get into any areas I won't be able to reach.

I'm also close to fuel line routing decision.  I can't add the trailing edges in permanently until that gets finalized and installed, which can't happen until the tanks are fabricated and the rear channel root doubler is dilled and deburred for the fuel line passthrough.  Need to start looking for grommets for that to0.

Blog posts in the coming episodes will likely be shorter but more frequent.  Thanks for following along!  More to come.....

Got the inboard and outboard trailing edges fit up and pilot hole drilled tonight.

The fit up was fairly easy and straight.  I'll need to close up the trailing edge angle a bit before fitting up the topside.  I can't rivet the bottom side until I route the fuel lines. 

Notched the inboard edge at the rear channel.  I'm going to wait to trim the trailing edge taper for now.

A3 pilot holes along the rear channel.  Outboard half of the wing will be upsized to A4, inboard to A5

Outboard trailing edge will get trimmed to match the wingtip.  I'll need to get it out of storage and prep it for fitting too.

Not a huge update tonight, but progress is progress.

Stay tuned for more, thanks as always for following along.

Although I've read it many times, watched and listened to other successful builders state it many times, one of the truisms I have really realized the value over the past couple of weeks is consistent shop time.  Not leaving so much time between shop sessions leaves previous work accomplishments and next steps fresh in mind, saving tons of re-thinking everything each weekly visit.

To that end, I'm planning on adding 2 nights a week to the full Saturdays I'm currently spending in the shop.  Some nights, I might be only a couple of hours, some more.  The point is I need to keep at it if I ever expect to get this project done.  Blogs will be more frequent too.  Tonight was my first evening session.

I decided to get the strut support section done.

Like the jury strut brackets, I found the scaling of my original templates lacking some accuracy, so I did up a new template on cardstock.  I left the lower end a little wider than the plans call for - that give me room to trim it after I bend the flange over to match the strut pick-up.

Found a nice piece of 063 perfectly sized for this - nice to find in scrap bin! 

Bending this bracket took a fair amount of figuring out.  The point of the curve needs to mate up to the curve of the strut pickup.  I measured three times and used a cut-off piece of 063 as a proof piece first to establish correct angle and bend line:

Trimmed the lower flange to match the upright flange of the strut support angle - perfect fit, glad I took the time to measure thrice!

Seven measured A3 (small bit) pilot holes in the lower flange:

 
​Some small C-clamps hold everything in place nice and tight and even:

Match drill the bracket to the angle.  This is challenging, but easily do-able with a very long A4 drill bit and 90 degree air drill.  

Match drill the 3/8 strut bolt hole in the support bracket by back-drilling (BIG bit) through the strut pick-up:

A5 (big bit) rivet hole as per the plans, drilled through both:

Everything comes apart, bracket to angle rivets are upsized to A5 and deburred.  Scrub down with Scotchbrite and prime (I did the front jury strut brackets at the same time.

As the title says, every bit counts.  More to come.