Started the Fuselage!

Got started on the fuselage kit since I am now waiting on the right wing spar to be sent to me.

Had to machine countersink the center section for some nutplates.  The center section parts are pre-assembled at the factory from clear anodized parts.  The factory has done a poor job of deburring and cleaning up the edges and holes on these parts.

I went ahead and deburred all the smaller holes.  Will hit the larger ones with some of the other tools.

These nutplates in the center get flush blind rivets.

These on the outside ends get squeezed flush rivets.

Other side.

Blind rivets done.

Next these upright pieces get machine countersunk for a couple nutplates.   Have no idea what attaches here.  I looked ahead but did not see it.

Both done.

These two holes get reamed up to #12.

Hit a snag because the pre-assembled center section was incorrectly dimpled at the factory.  These are supposed to remain flat and get reamed up to #12.

The community has informed me that this issue has been around a long time and the advice from Van's is to drill the dimples out to #12 and build on.  I decided to smash them flat and then drill/ream to #12.

Even with smashing them flat, and then drilling/reaming up to #12, a bit of the dimple remains on the backside.  This should not be an issue with the bolt/washer/nut that ends up here to hold the plastic spar guide block.  It is a shame that even though the factory knows this mistake is happening, they continue to make them wrong.....

Next I dimpled the first three holes on the corners of the F-01204D-1.