Dec 2024 to March 2025

December 14 2024 - 1.0hrs - 4657.0 total. Glued in the 6 intercostals and 12 gussets that were made up way back in March. Have spent quite a bit of time scratching my head and thinking about how to make room in the shop to turn over the wing and align the gear legs. I'm thinking about hanging the fuselage from the roof joists. It would clear up quite a bit of floor space.
December 16 2024 - 1.0hrs - 4658.0 total. Sanded and marked six gussets and did some tweaking on the three intercostals that were made up a long time ago. Once they were ready, glued them in place.
January 1 2025 - 1.0hrs - 4659.0 total. Got a new laser lever for Christmas. Tried it out and it works so much easier than the old level. Aligned rib #9 SB, clamped in place and temp glue in place with 5 minute epoxy. Spent some more time planning how to turn the wing over and jig it in place for aligning the gear.

January 6 2025 - 2.5.0hrs - 4661.5 total. Realized the forward edge of the rib I just temp glued in place was a little out of alignment. Cut the front glue joint out and sanded everything down then re-aligned and temp glued it again. Once that dried, sanded all 5 min epoxy down and prepped for gluing in shims. Made up the ten shims and reinforcement strips and glued them in place on rib #9 SB. That's probably the last rib I'll do for a while as I need to concentrate on getting the wing turned over for next weeks gear alignment project.
January 7 2025 - 2.0hrs - 4663.5 total. While marking the locations for the intercostals between ribs 8 & 9 SB I realized i have one of them on the port side off by 3/4". Took a lot of measuring to figure out how to deal with it. Took three tries to get them marked properly on the SB side, but finally got them marked. Made up 8each gussets for the upper and 8ea for the lower. Gussets still need to be final shaped and marked - after the intercostal pieces are made.

January 8 2025 - 3.5.0hrs - 4667.0 total. Made up 8 intercostals and prepped 16 gussets, marked all for location. Glued in place between ribs 8 & 9 SB side.
January 10 2025 - 0.0hrs - 4667.0 total. My friend arrives in a couple of days to help me get the wing turned over and align the gear pintals. Spent several hours out in the shop putting away tools and cleaning up in preparation for turning the wing. Went through several drafts of different methods to accomplish the turn over and settled on making some guides that will get clamped to the spar at the wing attach reinforcement points and allow the spar to be rolled on a small table top. Once I get them started, I'll post some photos.
January 11 2025 - 0.0hrs - 4667.0 total. Worked on the "rollover jigs" for a few hours today. They are pretty much done. Now I need to make a table that can be adjusted for height very precisely and also put it on casters.
January 12 2025 - 0.0hrs - 4667.0 total. Drew up some ideas for the lifting table. Went to a couple parts stores looking for a specific type of jack that no one had. Settled on a scissor jack. Finished the rollover jigs and temp clamped them onto the spar to see how they looked.
January 13-15 2025 0.0hrs - 4667.0 total. My friend is here and we've spent the last three days getting the lifting table ready. He's an aircraft structures engineer so has been spend a lot of time sitting and going through the plans to get the specs for linear actuators that could work for gear retraction and potentially for locking the gear up and down without needing a separate lock mechanism. We got the lifting table finished today - after a couple of modifications - and were able to get the wing turned over and leveled.
January 16 2025 - 5.0hrs - 4672.0 total. Spent the day working on getting the port pintal axle aligned. Once it was set, drilled the collar in the front pintal plate and through the pintal axle and put in a temporary bolt to hold it in place. Also aligned the toe in/toe out on that side to withing 1/8" by turning the internal spline carrier in the upper strut.

January 31 2025 - 1.0hrs - 4673.0 total. Took the wheel axle out of the SB strut leg and mounted brake torque plate to it, then reinstalled in strut. Cleaned up other loaner dead tire and put in SB rim then put all back together. Then put both struts on the wing just to see how it looks. Also tested retracting SB strut with wheel to see how it fit in wing. Fits just fine!
February 3 2025 - 0.0hrs - 4673.0 total. Have gotten pretty frustrated with my lack of floor space. The problem is that I never put the walls up in the shop because I wanted to get back to work on the airplane as I had been working on the shop build for so long. Well now its time to do something about the walls because I can barely move in the shop - and the wing just keeps getting bigger as more ribs go on. Have spent several hours planning and went to Home Depot and picked out a bunch of material that will be delivered in two days. With that I will do one section of wall - sort of as a test section - and that should allow me to put up some shelves and cabinets and get some of this stuff off of the floor. We shall see how it goes?
February 24 2025 - 0.5hrs - 4673.5 total. Been a while since I updated, but I've been busy on the shop! Finished up the wall section and put up four large shelves. Started rearranging things and got the crazy idea to see if I could maneuver the fuselage over and set it on the wing just to see how it would look. After a couple of very long days and at least one very late night, the fuselage was setting on the wing! Went ahead and put all the pieces on the aircraft for the first time in several years as I had some visitors coming by to look at my project. Took lots of pictures (below). Once everyone had seen it and left, I took all the pieces back off and stored them away then decided to see if I could hang the fuselage from the ceiling to give me more room to work on the wing. I've got it hung about about halfway right now. Hopefully I can finish getting it up closer to the ceiling tomorrow.

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage half way to being stored near the ceiling

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

February 26 2025 - 0.5hrs - 4674.0 total. Got the fuselage pulled as far up to the ceiling as I'm comfortable with. Using the two roof girders this way is actually pulling them towards each other, the higher the fuselage is raised, and I'm worried about potentially twisting them. Anyway its high enough now. Probably about 8ft clearance under there. Removed the landing gear and pintal plates and got the wing turned back upside down and aligned. SO MUCH easier getting things lined up with my new laser level! Put the unglued ribs back in place on the SB side of the spar and aligned and tacked rib #10 SB in place.
February 27 2025 - 3.5hrs - 4677.5 total. Sanded down 5 minute epoxy around #10 rib SB. Made up the 10 shim and reinforcement strips and glued in place around rib #10. Positioned and aligned rib #11 SB and tacked in place with left over glue from #10.
February 28 2025 - 5.0hrs - 4682.5 total. Sanded down glue around rib 11. Marked location of intercostals on ribs 9, 10 and 11. Made up intercostals and gussets for between ribs 9 and 10. Cut notches in all the gussets I had already made up while I was at it - probably about 40 of them. Made up the the shim and reinforcement strips for rib #11. Would have tacked rib #12 in place, but its very close to #11 (this is the tight gap between the flap and the aileron) so I'll need to wait till I get #11 fully glued in place first.

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Shim and reinforcement strips for #10 rib SB

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

March 1 2025 - 3.0hrs - 4685.5 total. Glued ten shim and reinforcement strips around rib #11 SB. Glued six intercostals and twelve gussets in place between ribs 9 and 10 SB. Made up six more intercostals, and 12 more gussets for between ribs 10 and 11 SB. Started looking at the process to cut off the backs of all the ribs for installation of aft spar.
March 2 2025 - 3.0 hrs. - 4688.5 total. Glued in the six intercostals and twelve gussets between ribs #10 and 11 SB. Positioned, aligned, and tacked rib # 12 in place on the spar. Marked the remaining rib locations with 1/4 bands on front and back of the spar to help in aligning them. Laid out the cut line on the ribs on the port side for the trailing spar.
March 3 2025 - 4.5hrs - 4693.0 total. Sanded down glue around rib # 12. Made up the ten shim and reinforcement strips for rib #12 SB and glued in place. Have always left ribs 2,3 and 4 on both sides loose and pushed out of the way so the landing gear could be installed. If I'm going to do the rear spar, I'm going to need all the ribs glued onto the front spar first. So went ahead and aligned rib #4 SB, clamped, then tacked in place with five minute epoxy. Realized I haven't been putting in the intercostals between the ribs in front of the spar on the SB side. Marked locations for them on ribs 4 thru 12. Traced, cut out and sanded 26 more gussets to shape from 1/4" ply.

March 4 2025 - 4.0hrs - 4697.0 total. Sanded down glue around rib #4 SB. Made up ten shim and reinforcement strips for around rib #4 SB. Made up six intercostals and 12 gussets for between ribs 11 and 12, marked locations on ribs, and glued in place. Aligned, clamped and tacked rib #13 SB in place.
March 5 2025 - 4.5hrs - 4701.5 total. Sanded down glue around rib #13 SB and made up ten shim and reinforcement strips for it and glued them in place. Aligned and tacked rib #4 port in place on spar with 5 minute epoxy. Glued ten shim and alignment pieces around rib #4 SB.
March 6 2025 - 1.5hrs - 4703.0 total. Made up six intercostals and twelve gussets to go between ribs 12 & 13 SB. Made up seven intercostals to go in front of the spar, still quite a few more to make for up there. Steve and I have been having discussions about the wing walk area. I'll have to go into some detail about it here soon.

March 7 2025 - 3.0hrs - 4706.0 total. Made up the rest of the 14 intercostals for in front of the spar, SB from rib #4 to 13 and also made up the 28 gussets. Glued in the six intercostals and twelve gussets between ribs 12 & 13 SB. Glued in three of the intercostals and six accompanying gussets in front of the spar.
March 8 2025 - 3.0hrs - 4709.0 total. Aligned rib #14 SB and tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy. Sanded down glue around rib#4 port and #14 SB (once it dried). Made up the ten shim and reinforcement strips for around #14 SB. Cut notches in the new batch of 26 gussets I made the other day.
March 9 2025 - 3.0hrs - 4712.0 total. Glued ten shim and reinforcement strips around rib #14 SB. Glued in six more intercostals and twelve gussets in front of spar SB. Traced, cut out, and sanded to shape, 22 more gusset blanks. Dry fit and sanded to shape 18 of the gussets for in front of the spar SB.
March 10 2025 - 3.0hrs - 4715.0 total. Made up eight intercostals for between ribs 13 & 14 SB. Made up 16 gussets for them as well. Marked locations of intercostals on rib #14. Traced out, cut and sanded to shape, 21 more gusset blanks.
March 11 2025 - 4.0hrs - 4719.0 total. Glued 8 intercostals and 16 gussets in place between ribs 13 & 14 SB. Glued most of the rest of intercostals and gussets that are ready to go, in front of the spar, only two left. Made up the ten shim and reinforcement strips for around rib #4 port.
March 12 2025 - 2.5hrs - 4721.5 total. Aligned rib #15 SB and tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy. Glued ten shim and reinforcement strips around rib #4 port. Glued in last two intercostals and gussets that were ready in front of spar.
March 13 2025 - 1.5hrs - 4723.0 total. Sanded down glue around rib #15 SB and made up the ten shim and reinforcement strips for it.
March 14 2025 - 3.5hrs - 4726.5 total. Made up eight intercostals and sixteen gussets for between ribs 14 & 15 SB. Cut notches in a batch of new gusset blanks with table saw to have enough. Glued in the ten shim and reinforcement strips, the eight intercostals and the sixteen gussets.
March 15 2025 - 2.0hrs - 4728.5 total. Aligned rib # 16 SB and tacked in place with five minute epoxy. Made up six intercostals and four gussets for between ribs #4 & 5 port. Started to make up more gussets with table saw and it started popping the breaker every time I turned it on! Determined its the circuit and not the saw - but that took a lot of time to figure out.

BUILDERS LOG - December 2024 TO March 2025

Gluing in 6 intercostals and 12 gussets.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Rib #9 SB being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy.

Three more intercostals and six gussets glued in place.

Rib #9 SB being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy.

Ten shim and reinforcement strips for # 9 rib SB

Intercostal locations marked (finally!) and gussets made.

Ten shim and reinforcement strips for # 9 rib SB

All shims and strips glued in place on rib #9 SB

Intercostal locations marked (finally!) and gussets made.

Ten shim and reinforcement strips for # 9 rib SB

Intercostal locations marked (finally!) and gussets made.

Intercostal locations marked (finally!) and gussets made.

Intercostal locations marked (finally!) and gussets made.

Four upper and four lower intercostals glued in along with 16 gussets between ribs #8 & 9 SB

Four upper and four lower intercostals glued in along with 16 gussets between ribs #8 & 9 SB

The "rollover jigs"

Four upper and four lower intercostals glued in along with 16 gussets between ribs #8 & 9 SB

Wing right side up, leveled and clamped in place. Ready to start gear alignment.

Wing right side up, leveled and clamped in place. Ready to start gear alignment.

Both struts and old dead tires mounted to wing just to see how it looks. Wing is a little low so struts are splayed slightly from where they will eventually go.

Strut and wheel in retracted position in SB wing

New wall section with shelves in the background. Starting to try to swing fuselage onto wing.

New wall section with shelves in the background. Starting to try to swing fuselage onto wing.

Fuselage sitting on wing and lots of parts attached to airframe

Another view of the fuselage on the wing, and parts installed

Yet another view

Yet another view

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage half way to being stored near the ceiling

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Panel temp installed. Throttle quadrant temp clamped in place

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Fuselage as far up as I feel safe putting it. Lots of room on the floor now!

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Shim and reinforcement strips for #10 rib SB

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Rib #10 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Six intercostals and twelve gussets for between ribs 9 and 10 SB, ready to be glued in place

Shim and reinforcement strips for #12 rib SB

Shim and reinforcement strips glued in place on #12 rib SB

Rib #4 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Rib #4 SB aligned and clamped into position, being tacked in place with 5 minute epoxy

Shim and reinforcement strips for #4 rib SB

Six intercostals and twelve gussets glued in between ribs 11 & 12. Rib 13 SB being tacked in place.

Six intercostals and 12 gussets ready to be glued in between ribs 12 and 13 SB.

Six intercostals and 12 gussets ready to be glued in between ribs 12 and 13 SB.

18 intercostals and 24 gussets ready to go in front of spar. Two intercostals and four gussets are glued in in this shot

All but two of the existing intercostals and four gussets glued in front of spar. Intercostals and gussets glued in between ribs 13 & 14.

Ten shim and reinforcement strips, eight intercostals and sixteen gussets ready to be glued in place

Ten shim and reinforcement strips, eight intercostals and sixteen gussets ready to be glued in place