10/26/2006
Finally! I had a goal, and I met it! My dad came over for a little while this evening to help me rivet the left flap together. We started with the inboard ribs. I bucked while my dad shot. I've heard and read how the ribs and rear spar really suck to shoot, and everything I've heard and read is true. They suck. My knuckles are somewhat bruised, and I get to do this all over again on the right flap. Didn't get any pics of us doing this, but when we were done, and he left, I removed one eyelet from the flap side of the hinge to make getting the pin in and out easier.
Then I riveted the spar to the rib with LP4-3's (this really sucks for access on the top rivet), and then I squeezed the inboard brackets together and the bottom row of rivets spar to skin. I solo shot and bucked the top row of rivets, and they all turned out great! Here's the little bucking bar I used to get in there easily.
I taped the bottom of the bar so it could rest on the spar while shooting. This made doing this solo very easy. With those done...the left flap is complete! Oh, no twist in this one!
Bottom...
Top...
3.0 hours