Riveting the flaps
6h
April 25, 2024
Riveting the flaps.
Did not take too many pictures. The process was pretty straightforward. First, I clecoed the skins and the ribs together, then riveted the seam between the two skins. Then I riveted the ribs to the skins.
Riveting in progress. The plans say to use LP-4-3 rivets here, but I didn't see any reason not to use solid rivets instead.
To reach the rivets nested in the angle, I turned a simple bushing tool from a piece of aluminum.
The plans say to use MK-319-BS rivets in the aft three positions on the bracket side, but I was able to rivet two of these with my long bucking bar.
Also, I used MK-319-BS rivet in the position next to the nutplate as the nutplate makes it hard to reach the rivet with the bucking bar.
The end result.
Then I simply repeated the whole process for the second flap. Did not take any pictures, but here is the final result.
![Flap clecoed together.](/_app/immutable/assets/0-flap-clecoed.BwYIs0Io.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![Riveting the flap.](/_app/immutable/assets/1-flap-riveting.Cz9l5g-1.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![A tool for installing pulled rivets.](/_app/immutable/assets/2-bushing-tool.CHqhB3gf.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![The long bucking bar.](/_app/immutable/assets/3-long-bucking-bar.BhHmb4A3.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![MK-319-BS rivets.](/_app/immutable/assets/4-mk-319-bs-rivets.BKmIZdxc.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![The flap is fully riveted.](/_app/immutable/assets/5-flap-riveted.CclkX2FE.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)
![Both flaps are now complete.](/_app/immutable/assets/6-both-flaps-complete.Cqbt-epm.jpeg?nf_resize=smartcrop&w=180&h=180)