Brief Description: Dimpling the wing Leading Edge Skins
Once the leading edges were cleaned and scotchbrited, the stiffeners were also prepped in a similar way. Image 1 shows the stiffeners that could be processed in the sink instead of outside like the skin. Next the leading edge skin was bent about 2 degrees at the spar rivet line to keep the skin laying flush after riveting (easier to do this bend before dimpling) Finally, the skins were dimpled. Unfortunately, the Nexus skins are bent at such an angle that you cannot use the Avery dimpling/rivet arm, so, these skins must be dimpled the old-fashion way...with a gun and bucking bar. I modified the bucking bar somewhat to get the female die to sit flush in the bar. Then I could hold the bar relatively blindly, and get a good flush set on the dimple with no distortion. Dimpling the two leading edge skins makes you keenly aware of just how many holes are in the skins. For once, I completed the dimpling operation without mis-hitting any of the holes,...a rare event for me.
