We let the Akzo primer dry overnight, so now it’s time to install some nutplates.....lots of nutplates. The Left and Right Main Spars will receive 154 nutplates (77 in each Spar) via a combination of the these four nutplates:
K1000-06, 24 (12 on each Spar)
MS21-53-L08, 20 (10 on each Spar)
K1000-3, 14 (7 on each Spar)
K1100-08, 96 (48 on each Spar)
Here is what they look like.....
The plans call for AN426AD3-3.5 rivets to be used to attach all the nutplates to the Flanges of the Main Spars. Here you can see the nutplates attached to the Upper Flange of the Left Main Spar. We used the hand squeezer for all of the rivets on these nutplates.
These are the nutplates on the Lower Flange of the Left Main Spar. We also used the hand squeezer for all of the rivets on these nutplates.
Here is a close up of the one of the Flanges. The row of nutplates on the top will be used to attach the fuel tank. The ones on the bottom will be for the Wing Access Plate.
These are the three nutplates in the Left Main Spar web on the inboard side. We used the rivet gun and small tungsten bucking bar for these rivets because the pneumatic squeezer yoke didn’t have enough reach. However, we were able to use the pneumatic squeezer for all five of the AN470AD4-6 universal rivets on the right.
These are the four nutplates in the Left Main Spar web on the outboard side. We were able to use the hand squeezer on the two closest to the tip (on the left) and backriveted the two near the SB500-6 Snap Bushing.
Lastly, the two Aileron Bellcrank Brackets were bolted to the Spar. The bolts used were already installed in the Spar when it was shipped from Van’s, so they had to be removed and re-installed with the Brackets.
Here are a few pictures of the Left Main Spar with all nutplates attached.
The only thing left do on the Left Main Spar is the countersinking of the nutplate screw attach holes. I plan to finish the Right Main Spar (to this point) and complete the final countersinking step on both of them at the same time.
We started work on the Right Main Spar and were able to get all the nutplates on the Upper Flange installed. We will resume here tomorrow.
