Covering left wing top...and a lesson learned

12/05/03 - This evening after work, I got out to the shop for about three hours and began applying the top sheet of fabric for the left wing.

I quit with everything in place and ready for the final three iron passes and will definitely NOT attempt a work phase like this again after a long and arduous day at the office.

I found myself hurrying in a few areas and a couple of times, I discovered that I was working an area out of sequence from the first wing I did.  I guess you could equate doing this with making the decision to go flying when very tired or stressed...probably not the best idea.

In this case however, nothing was lost, damaged or left in an unacceptable condition and the job went well overall.  I just regret trying to squeeze-in the session this evening in order to make a little more headway over the weekend.

Anyway...here are a few photos of the work from this evening, starting with the top sheet pre-fit and the aft side already loosely trimmed:

Here, showing the bottom side of the leading edge where the top sheet has been glued down in place:

After sealing the trailing edge, I have marked my trim line and am trimming to final on the trailing edge side:

Although having leading and trailing edges sealed in place would have been an ideal time to quit for the evening, I then began work on the tip bow:

In the next photo, I am getting ready to wrap the root rib with the end of the top sheet after finishing the tip bow:

Here's a shot showing the topside of the wing at my stopping point tonight:

Next trip out (probably tomorrow) I need to get the three passes with the iron in to shrink to final taughtness, then begin placing patches, etc. on the jury strut and lift strut fittings and install the inspection and exit rings.

I had hoped to be finished with the rib riveting process this weekend also (which is why I started working this evening), but we'll have to wait and see...I know better than to try rushing things now!  ;^)

More updates soon...

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Last Update: 12/05/2003