04Sep21 - Practice Kit Part Deux

So heard yesterday that my empennage kit will be finished crating by the end of the month, so now I need to start practising the skills I lack (most of them) highlighted by the aerofoil kit....So I spent an afternoon watching Metal Magic videos by Paul Dye on Kitplanes.com. They are very informative, and he recommends setting 100 rivets & then drilling them out again.....I also learned I need to drill out the rivet with a smaller drill bit then the hole. Obvious now you think about it, but sometimes you get tunnel vision... `So ordered some aluminium, tracked down some #31 & #41 drill bits, and got working....

I cut some aluminum sheet into strips, drilled a selection of #30 & #40 holes, and set about with the gun & bucking bar. Pretty sure some of the rivets were too long, but that was useful as I could see the difference on the shop head (the side you batter with the bucking bar). And then you drill them out. I see lots of youtube builders using an cordless electric drill, but I much prefer the air drill...plus I like the sound :). Also make sure you pay up for a decent automatic centre punch. My £6.99 amazon special lasted about 5 minutes....Back to the web, and actually found a review of the best ones(!), and the Starret 18c was soon in action. Takes a fair bit of pressure, so I fashioned an old champagne cork to protect the palm....

Not sure I did 100, but definitely quite a few... Now I have to build the second practice kit and make a better job of it this time