December 30, 2007 - Attach Tailwheel Assembly 

Gosh, I hadn't messed with the tailwheel gear for probably three years.  I had it into the fuse and bolted up in less than an hour. 
 
A close-up of the tailwheel control horn assembly.
 
 
 
Back to the co-pilots stick.  I resoldered the PTT switch and RTVed the switch into the stick grip.
 
I hung the rudder in a few seconds.
 

Then fashioned the rear side fuse covers.  It has been a long time since I've done this kind of classic aluminum work:  smooth the ends, match-drill the holes, deburr, dimple, install the nutplates.  These holes were a little unusual in that they took #6 screws.  I can't remember working with #6 screws and the #27 drill bit on the project.  It's always been #8 screws and the #19 bit. 

Two of the four holes on each side skin were easy to do with the Main Squeeze for dimpling and riveting.  The two top holes on each side were trouble, though.  There wasn't enough real estate for the Main Squeeze.  I used my #30 pop-rivet dimpler to dimple them which was fine.  Some holes I was able to back rivet by sticking the gun through the other side opening.  But a couple of the holes involved what I like to call nerve-wracking riveting.  If I knew then what I knew now, I would have installed the nutplates before the side skins ever went on. 
 
 
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