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.
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.
Wing metal work
Tonight I completed a couple of steps on the wings. I countersunk the holes in the rear spar where the flap gap fairing attaches, dimpled the access hatch doubler, and enlarged the holes in the landing light mounts.
