Next up, let’s get to tank rib prep and matchdrilling! After fishing out the ribs yesterday and mocking them up on the baffle, I clecoed them into the now-devinyled skin and got to matchdrilling.

First up, a picture of the whole tank assembly (except some of the small bits) clecoed together on the workbench.

Ah, now I remember. That was pre. This next one is post. See how much different it looks? (I wonder if I could calculate how much lighter the tank is after enlarging the punched holes to 0.040.”)

Next, I grabbed the machine countersink and started along the skin-to-baffle holes. Here’s a first shot at countersink depth. Clearly not deep enough.

After a few more clicks of the adjustment, and it was right on.

With matchdrilling done, but about 20 minutes left till the nearest next half-hour on the timer, I grabbed some tank stiffeners and did a rough cut. There are two “A” stiffeners, six “B” stiffeners, two “C” and two “D” stiffeners. I think.

Getting closer to proseal time. I need to think about ordering some from Vans.

1.5 hours.