[samray]

The fuselage interior is painted before wiring so wire bundles don't interfere with painting. After wiring, the top forward skin over the instrument panel is riveted in place. I'd like to rivet the F804N channel cap on before painting because it seems more straight forward, but there are two top skin -3 rivets behind the F804N. I've got pictures of RV8's with what appear to be rivet first F804N's due to the painted rivets. Did they wait to rivet on F804N, then paint just it afterwards? What are others doing in this area?

Thanks!
Sam

 

[samray]

To answer my own question- which is always the best answer, but also to help other guys. Install nutplate for the most aft bolt holding the windscreen weldment to the upper longeron, and open the 2 3/32 rivet holes to 1/8 for cherry max rivets. The bolt and two rivets aren't accessible once the F802N is riveted in place.

Sam