I sure do have a saint for a wife, letting me, encouraging me, even, to work some more on the plane even though it is New Years Day. It is definitely true that you can’t do this kind of project without great support from your spouse/significant other/pets (though not sure our dogs are on board to be honest).
Anyway, back in the hangar for a change of pace. It is time to construct some of the baggage compartment. Yes, this may be a small plane but there is still room for a small overnight bag or two. But before that we had to take care of something we should have done earlier…..
The tops of the HT Frames need l-angles for attaching to the top skin, so we removed the top skin and cut a couple of l-angles to attach to the frames.
Then we had to put the top skin back on to drill through it into the l-angles, but that was done and we got some holes.
Back to that baggage compartment… the Baggage Back sits on two Baggage Back Channels
The baggage back is stiffened with some l-angles so we cut and drilled as we have done so many times.
The baggage compartment floor is a pre-cut piece which also takes some custom-made l-angles
Baggage back – meet baggage floor.
Removing the uprights first, we then put the baggage assembly into the rear fuselage and enlarged the holes in the side skin where the baggage compartment pieces will be riveted.
With this done, we were almost ready to rivet the rear fuselage together but I was due to go back to work the next day. After some (small) thought, I decided to take the day off and Dad and I would see if we could get the assembly riveted before he leaves to go back home to England.