Section 21 Complete Build Time: 734 hrs

Section 21 took a bit of time to complete. There are many parts to this section and the seat ribs were fairly complex if you wanted to get a complete picture of how the assemblies go together when complete. Because I prime - and because all the dimpling, drilling and nut plate locations are done prior to priming it was necessary to understand the final assemblies prior to actually assembling them. All in all it came out nice. I'm happy with it and it looks like I'm getting closer to finishing. A new milestone - the box of 10000 rivets is no more - I'm down to a cup of rivets from that box. There are still a couple thousand in the second box and hundreds elsewhere. I remember looking at this box and wondering when I would ever get through it. This section seemed to be the most complicated so far. I was definitely the longest. I broke it into two sections because there were so many parts to deburr and prime that it was hard to keep track of everything. I'm already eyeing section 22 which is much shorter.

Bottom skin going on. I wanted to take a picture of this before I flipped it over and as soon as it was right side up I remembered. Oh well - I think there's a section that has it upside down again. If not - let's hope it's the last time it sees the sun!

Here's a view of the bottom of the fuselage. Looks good.

Box of 10,000 LP 4-3 rivets - took two years to burn through these little guys.

Finally the bottom of the box!

Mid fuselage right side up working on the step pans and steps.

I had to stand it on the side so I could reach the #8 screws and nuts for the system blocks - what a PIA to do by yourself.

90 degree steep turns in an RV 12! There are quite a few holes that don't have snap bushings. I looked ahead and couldn't see where those would be put in but I did manage to convince myself that anywhere they may be needed can be accessed.

The finished product of section 21. Took some time. Lot's of inspections since there are areas that will never be seen again. I was tempted to sit in it and make airplane noises but I think that will have to wait until I have the control sticks in it.