Brief Description: Prepped wheel pants for fairing gap filler.
I started the prep to cover the gap between the fore and aft intersection fairngs with a lip of flox that will be applied tomorrow. I decided to go ahead and rivet the axle nut bracket that holds the outboard side of the aft pant. The fiberglass on the pant in this area is thick. When I riveted the the first rivet I heard a pop and a crack appeared going to the edge of the thick layer but not propogating into the thinner lip that holds the fore pant. I'll wait to see if the rivet gets loose before I worry about it. I backed off the setting on the hand crimper and the other rivets set without cracks. After the riveting I installed the pants onto the brackets.
I applied a piece of electrical tape over the gap that we'll try cover tomorrow. Stretching the tape while applying to the fiberglass will probably cause it to come off. I'll see if it's still there in the morning.
Axle nut bracket riveted to the wheel pant.
A crack appeared when riveting through the thick fiberglass pant. I backed off on the crimper setting
Pants installed then electrical tape applied over the gap.
