Tonight I riveted on the plate nuts for the left wing access panel, and the VA-146 flange bearing. The riveting was straightforward, and everything came out looking good.
Riveting
Landing light brackets
Tonight I installed the landing light brackets into each wing. Access was limited in the garage, but I was able to make it work.
Before we moved last year I Installed an extra support at the front of the wing stand. This allows me to safely slide the wings sideways a foot or so, without the inboard end falling onto the ground. It was useful tonight, as I slid the wings sideways one at a time, gaining access to the landing light area without interference from the other wing.
I used the gun and bucking bar to set all the rivets. Everything was going well until the second to last rivet, when the bucking bar slipped off the rivet head without me noticing. It slipped half off the rivet, and smashed down one side, making an ugly mess. I drilled it out without a problem, but found that the mashed rivet head had gauged the bracket slightly. I used a deburring tool and some scotchbrite to remove the bur that had been created, and then set a new rivet. I’ll touch up the paint next time I am painting. Aside from that silly mistake, this step went well.
Finished gap fairings
Tonight I surprised myself by finishing the right wing gap fairings. It was much faster on the second wing, probably because I streamlined my process and moved more quickly through the riveting.
No issues to report, this was a mirror image of the left wing.
Gap fairing riveting
Tonight I completed the left wing aileron and flag gap fairing riveting. I hand squeezed all of the rivets. The only place I did anything differently from the plans was the most inboard rear spar rivet on the aileron fairing, where I used a cherrymax pop rivet instead of a solid rivet. I used a 4-2 cherry max because the clearance on the forward side of the spar was so small, I wouldn’t have been able to safely buck the rivet.
Flap gap riveting
Tonight I clecoed on and started riveting the flap and aileron gap fairings, on the left wing. I only had an hour in the garage so I didn’t come close to finishing the riveting, but I made a start.
Wing dimpling
Tonight I dimpled the aft-most rows of holes in the wing top skins where the gap fairings will attach. I also riveted the stiffeners to the gap fairings, and installed the access port doubler on the left wing.
Primed parts
Tonight I primed the flap gap fairings, landing light brackets, and the access panel doubler for the left wing.
It took me a while to get set up again, since it’s the first time I’ve spray painted since moving last year. I had to go buy some purified water, and just finding all the stuff I needed took a while. Everything came out looking ok.
Dimpling flap and aileron gap fairings
After a week being out of action with a flu and cold, I was able to spend an hour or so in the garage tonight. I deburred and dimpled the gap fairings for both wings, then dimpled the holes. I’m hoping to get a chance to prime a bunch of parts tomorrow, so I can start riveting things onto the wings.
Dimpling
Tonight I fabricated the flap gap fairing stiffeners, and dimpled the screw holes for the landing light lens. Small tasks, but progress.
Wing skin dimpling
Today I dimpled the putter leading edge wing skins, for the landing light attach bracket, and the landing light lens cover. Not much to see, so no pictures today.
The landing light attach bracket holes require a special dimple tool, and I hunted around for a while before I found it. It uses a steel nail and a pop rivet gun to squeeze the dies together. It’s a clever invention, and is the only way you can safely dimple holes where access to both sides is limited.