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Hi all,
It seems it would be easier to drill the first set of holes in the bottom of the turtledeck prior to joining the halves. Same alignment, less metal to flop around. Then I could join the skins, bend it over, get it straight and drill out the right side. Does this seem like a good way?

Bryan,

I followed the sequence in the plans as it's written and had no issue. I joined both halves of the turtledeck to the spline then had to figure out how to wrestle the skin into one half then carefully bend over the other side. By doing it this way you guarantee the sides are aligned and fitting properly.

Scott,
My observation was when the first set of holes was drilled on the left, the right side was doing nothing. Then the left side is clecoed and the right slid fore and aft for alignment. But the first set of pilot holes could be drilled like so:

After they are drilled I would rivet the halves together, bend and do the right side.

Bryan, I don't see why what you're suggesting wouldn't work, as long as the halves are joined and the right side is allowed to "float" before drilling the right side holes. That said, positioning the left side and drilling its holes is the easy part (halves joined or not), bending the right side into position is trickier.

For what it's worth, I didn't actually up-drill or rivet the spine until final assembly of the turtledeck (formers in place.) I'm not saying this is better or worse, but it worked for me and nowhere in the plans does it say that the spine needed to be riveted first (versus clecoed.)

Thanks Ryan. I will definitely cleco, so I can polish after.

Have a look at WIX-T07 before you finish the turtledeck. Access to drill the bolt holes into the hockey sticks will be easier if turtledeck former #5 is not in place. I went ahead and completed the installation right up to (not) installing the bolts/rivets, before starting on the turtledeck.