Tailcone – Builder's Log

Tailcone Odds ‘n’ Ends

Took it a little easy on the build this month so I could focus on preparing, interviewing and ultimately accepting

Started by drilling out and replacing some rivets in the bottom skin that were either grossly overdriven or bent/sheared. Then

Finished riveting the left side tailcone skin to the stiffeners, frames and bulkheads. All within reach with my little stepladder.

Started riveting a little more of the left tailcone to the stiffeners. Pretty much did the top row, then moved

Went to the hangar for a couple hours of working on the plane. Started by dimpling the nut plate rivet

The left tailcone longeron was removed and deburred and countersunk where required. The aft top deck was also deburred. Then

Did the final drilling of the top skins and side skins with the left longeron. Then it was time to

Spent time today match drilling the replacement left longeron. A lot of drilling! Then I attached the two top skins,

Finished riveting stiffeners and bulkheads to the bottom tailcone skin. There were a couple of problem areas that required drilling

After finishing the rudder, I had to make a decision whether to continue in the plans and begin the horizontal