I recently received the replacement rudder skin for the one that I messed up a few weeks back, while riveting on the stiffener angles. While riveting this one, I made darn sure that the back riveting plate was under where I was riveting. Everything was going great, until I got to the trailing edge. I got most of these rivets set, but because the skin is pre-formed you really need to push it open to get at the rivets along the trailing edge.
It’s fine near the upper end of the rudder but as you work your way down to the lower end, your arms can’t reach so well, and it’s hard to be squarely on the rivet. I bent over a few rivets and drilled them out. Tried again. No Joy! Drilled the rivets out again. Tried a third time, and again, no joy. By now the skin is starting to get deformed from all the riveting and upon looking at my current handy work, the condition of the skin is not going to be acceptable. So, this is where rudder skin # 2 has ended up.
I know I can do better work, and will.
Needless to say, I was not impressed.
Lessons Learned
The big lesson here is that if you are struggling to get the rivet gun square on the rivets, don’t rivet! In this case, I needed someone’s assistance to help me hold the skin open, and flat against the table, while I can take the time to focus on getting the rivet gun squarely in place.
It’s okay to call it a day and walk away when things just aren’t working. There is a reason why and pushing ahead just to complete a task, isn’t always going to result in acceptable, airworthy results.
Please comment,
I love to hear from my readers. Thanks again for coming along for this ride, you make my work worthwhile.
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