Rotisserie

Today I finally finished a mount for the firewall, and was able to get the fuselage onto the rotisserie.

The mount is made of angle iron and 2×4, and is bolted onto the firewall in 4 corners where the engine mount will go. I had to ream the holes (per plans), and used a combination of AN-6 bolts, rubber washers, and nuts to secure the mount to the firewall.

With the mount on, I assumed I would need a couple of helpers to get the fuselage down from the work benches to the rotisserie, but was able to get it done by myself. I hoisted the fuse up using rope suspended from rafters, moved the tables out of the way, then eased it down onto a couple of low saw horses. By lifting the tail I was able to line up the mount with the rotisserie, and it slid into place no problem. Then I was able to remove the saw horses, lower the tail onto a saw horse, and it was done.

Fuselage on the rotisserie for the first time
Rotating to the side 45 degrees to test it out

Seatbelt lugs

Tonight I riveted the seatbelt lugs together, then clecoed them to the fuselage. I had to clean and oil my hand squeezer. It’s been so long since I used it!

I didn’t have too many problems once I had the right yoke on the squeezer, and fiddled around to find the right angles.

Rotisserie

I started work on a rotisserie mount for the firewall. The mount will support the forward end of the fuselage, connecting the firewall to an engine stand. The stand allows the whole fuselage assembly to rotate so I can more easily work on the fuselage.

The mount is made of some steel angle and some 2×4
This is the engine stand that will support the fuselage and allow it to rotate

Bulkhead install

Tonight I installed the F-01406 bulkhead. This was a quick and fairly easy job, one side at a time I removed clecos and installed the bulkhead pieces per the plans, and then clecoed it back together. I clecoed almost every hole to get this joint as strong as possible before I move the fuselage onto a rotisserie for riveting.

Installing clecos to hold the bulkhead in place
My two-tone fuselage