Began final riveting of flaps today. As usual, the riveting took longer than expected and I was unable to finish both flaps in this session. I did however, get the right flap done with the exception of about seven (7) blind rivets. I have two pop-rivet squeezers but neither can get under the leading edge flap overhang to set the spar to rib upper rivets. Also, the three rivets at the inboard rib are a problem. Looks like I will have to look around for another rivet squeezer with about a 2-1/2 inch head (smaller the better). As for the end rib problem, I may have to fabricate a short steel bushing to place between the rivet and the sequeezer head to get the tool above and away from the bracket.
Anyway, the left flap still requires riveting of the ribs to skin on the top side and installation of the spar and hinge. The left flap will have the same problems as the right with the blind rivets. The shop manual says the flaps are the easiest control surfaces to build. That may be but the riveting was not so easy for me, especially inside toward the trailing edge. The clearances are tight and it was really hard to maneuver and hold the bucking bar. Regardless, the quality of the riveting remains good so polishing rather than paint remains an option.
