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Kupe's Zodiac 650B
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Date:  1-3-2014
Number of Hours:  3.00
Manual Reference:  6-B-1, 2, & 3
Brief Description:  Fuselage Bottom Skin Rivet

Braved the 18 degree/25 mph wind by going out to the garage and powering up the "Mr. Contractor" propane heater because ... today is a RIVET DAY!

Reassembled the fuselage bottom skin with all its associated longerons, cross braces, shims, doublers and the like. Today's riveting was a new experience since the piece had a mixture of A4 and A5 rivets throughout. Really kept me on my toes. I also decided to dimple and flush rivet the frames around the access door so that the door doesn'r gap when it's closed. The plans call for standard "round" rivets, but I think this will look better when the door's closed.

Riveting was going normal until at one point I broke a rivet mandrel (the nail-like portion that sticks out of the top of a rivet before it's "pulled") off in the pneumatic riveter. I had to take a time out to figure out how to disassemble the riveter so I could remove the mandrel - thank you Internet! Luckily, I figured it all out, removed the offending mandrel, reassembled the riveter, and somehow it still worked. At least I'll know what to do next time this happens.

After riveting the skin to all the pieces and parts, I reassembled the lower rudder hinge and updrilled it to its final bolt sizes (4 x AN-4 bolts) plus a 5/16" hole for the tail tiedown ring.
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The bottom fuselage skin while riveting.

The bottom fuselage skin while riveting.

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One of the two longeron splices with it's dense rivet line. Flush rivets in the background.

One of the two longeron splices with it's dense rivet line. Flush rivets in the background.

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Lower rudder hinge assembly updrilled and test bolted with tiedown ring.  I'll leave it off for now.

Lower rudder hinge assembly updrilled and test bolted with tiedown ring. I'll leave it off for now.

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