Riveting... first experience(s)

All the corrosion proofing is done!  Not my favourite job, but needs to be done - and done right.  I am quite happy with the results so far.

First step was to rivet the forward and rear spars together, along with the root and counterweight ribs.

All of these were set with a hand squeezer.  Only had one crooked that had to be drilled out and redone.

Trailing edge of the rudder skins epoxied per one of the tips in the manual.  It yielded a perfectly straight trailing edge, that looks quite good.

Skins temporarily fit on the framework to again check for straightness.  All looks good.  Lines up perfectly on the jig.

Some friends that have vast amounts of experience riveting a number of aircraft projects gave me a hand for the day to teach me the finer points.  I learned a lot in 4 hours of watching and questions.

We riveted both sides of the aft spar, and half of the forward spar.  As I am in Canada, we cannot close up any structure until the 'pre-cover' inspection is complete.  So only half the skin will be riveted for now.  The entire forward skin can be riveted, but the tip rib will need to be left off so the inspector can see down into the spars.  Also need to install the counterweight.

Not a bad days work.  

Next:

- Install counterweight

- Rivet forward skins

- Rivet one skin to the root rib

Then it will be onto the horizontal stabilizer!