Matt's RV-7 Project

I broke down and bought a bandsaw:

I think this is the same $99 Delta unit that everybody else buys for their RV. I put a 15 TPI blade in it, and it cuts through aluminum like butta. I spent most of my limited evening fiddling around with the 972 little set screw adjustments on it, then used it to cut out these funky looking gussets:

I've got enough finished parts built up now that I can probably do a medium sized batch of fuselage riveting, once I do a medium sized batch of deburring, that is.

I finished fitting and attaching the nutplates that will hold down the baggage floors. I ended up putting a screw and nutplate in each and every one of the prepunched rivet holes. This is probably a ridiculous amount of overkill, especially along the F-706 bulkhead, but it's certainly strong enough.

After vacuuming out about a pound of aluminum shavings from all the drilling and deburring and whatnot, I put in about a third of the screws just to hold things in place. You can also see where I fitted and attached the baggage tunnel cover. The baggage floors are now completely removable but still entirely flush-mounted, which makes them look classy.

I liked the countersunk thing so much I actually drilled out most of the factory-installed K1000 straight nutplates that are used to attach the forward seat pans, and replaced them with K1100 countersunk nutplates too. I figured, why not go all out so everything matches? Also, I was remembering how the panhead screws in my last RV used to tear little holes in the seat upholstery.

I am officially sick and tired of installing nutplates, as well as actually being sick and tired. Now, to rest so Mary can stop worrying. Can you believe she doesn't think it's a good idea to stand up in the garage all weekend when you have a cold? She has these crazy notions about "getting lots of rest" and "drinking plenty of fluids".