01/09/2008 - Top Skins

The 3lb bucking bar from Avery arrived today which meant I could make a start on back riveting the top skins onto the wing.  The large back offset rivet tool and the machined 3lb bucking bat are both available from Avery.

Bernard came and we soon settled into a rhythm with me on the gun and back riveter whilst Bernard had the bucking bar.

The process starts in the middle of the wing and works up and down and outwards to smooth the skin onto the ribs.  The rivet sizes jump about a bit.

We left where the two skins join till last and ran out of time so they will be done in the next session.

It wont be long till it comes off the jig so attention turned to building a cradle.  The plans have the cradle holding both wings, but I wont have the space for that so this is a single wing cradle ..which means I will have to build two !