Joining fuselage sections with some proseal?

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:09 pm

Rear section of the 9 fuselage is done, and the center section is getting riveted together today. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to run a small bead of proseal where these sections overlap before I join them together permanently.
Is there any disadvantage to doing this? I can see it would potentially keep any moisture out of the overlapping sections of the lower fuselage. Or am I just being obsessive compulsive?

Post by **Spike** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 1:48 pm

obsessive a bit. I just finished riveting my fuse together and the addition of proseal would just make it messy. Also, with all of those parts coming together back there it could really affect fit. Its rough enough as it is getting it all together and fitting really well.

Spike

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:52 pm

What about running an edge roller along the outer skin? Would that make the seam tighter looking?

Post by **Spike** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:47 pm

That I think is a good idea. I think many people are doing that. I have done that many times to get a nice tight fit. To be honest, I didn't do it on those skins as I forgot about it until after they were dimpled.

I am very happy with the way that they came out, however, I believe they would have been even better had I done that.

Spike

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:37 pm

Bruce,
I didn't roll the edges of mine either and it came out just great. I did, however, run a very small bead of proseal after the fact when the riveting was done, to seal up some very small areas where there were some small gaps. I think it would have been messy to do so before riveting.

Any pics of your progress?

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:38 pm

I'll take some pictures once it looks like I've completed something!

Seems like the parts have been together and then back apart several times.
Yesterday I got the seat and baggage ribs riveted to the 904/905 bulkheads.

At this point I'm ready to start pounding rivets in the center section floor skin, but I'm going to have to convince one of my kids to get out there and help me first.

I went ahead and rolled the aft edges of the center floor skin. I will probably lay down just a tiny bead of proseal before they go together permanently. Although I reserve the right to change my mind about that! Reading ahead in the plans it appears that there is a bunch of work still to do before the center and rear floor skins actually get riveted together. The instructions for the fuselage get really terse and confusing at this point. Side skins go on, then off, longerons get tweaked and drilled, etc... Without the internet communities I'd be totally lost.

Post by **Spike** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:50 am

You are actually a fair distance away from riveting that center section to the rear section. You will end up mocking up all of the side skins, forward structure, rudder / brake pedals, etc., first.

Take your time and have fun dude!

Spike

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:23 am

Center section done! Just as a point of reference, all of the center section bottom skin can be riveted solo - if you have long arms. And, if you rotate that section around on its various sides for access. It took 3 evenings, but I got out there late and didn't push the riveting noise much past 10pm. Only had to drill out 1 rivet. I usually average more than that. Guess I'm getting better at it.

Tomorrow I'll flip it right side up and get working on the baggage floors and seat pans. I got a couple of more sawhorses, so this weekend the rear and center sections should come together (after I rearrange the garage).