It was pretty cold out tonight (in the teens), but the shop warmed up in about 20 minutes with the new heater. I still need to put some blankets or insulation at the bottom of the garage door, but I was very comfortable working. I finished deburring the right leading edge skin and moved on to the left skin. I set up the DRDT-2 dimpler and dimple both skins. The area in the center at the bend of the skins was not accessable with the DRDT-2 dimpler because the skin gets in the way of the handle swing. I had the same problem with the tank skins. I used the pop-rivet dimple dies on those areas of the tank skins. I read a product review of the DRDT-2 dimpler in one of the flying magazines and I discovered an easy way to dimple these areas. You reverse the dimple dies in the dimpler and turn the skins upside down. This way you can dimple without the skin getting in the way of the handle. It makes perfect sense and I'm a little embarassed I didn't figure it out on my own! Anyhow, the skins are now ready and all I need is to prime the ribs and I will be a-rivetin' again.....Oh, by the way......I have been working a few hours at my wife Wendy's gift shop (to help her out around the holidays). She is trading me (hour for hour) my work in her shop for her working on the plane! I told her she will become an expert riveter in no time because I plan to use her when we rivet the skins. My daughter will be home for the holidays from school (Michigan State) and she has said she also wants to help me......It will be nice to have some help.
Both Leading edge skins ready for final assembly
Inside view of both L.E, skins
Leading edge skin dimpled, deburred and ready to rivet
