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Date:  5-8-2007
Number of Hours:  2.70
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Jim Weed helps rivet the forward side skins

I had a great new building buddy show up at the shop tonight. Jim Weed is a friend who used to own a Honda and Ferrari repair shop in Tucker. He has been a pilot for years, but now he is hankering for a little more challenge and speed. Jim visited the shop about a month ago and got interested in RVs. Since then, Jim has sent off for the RV-9A preview plans. Jim and a friend attended Sun-N-Fun and went to the Vans banquet. To see if he liked RV type construction, Jim put together a Vans toolbox, which utilizes different riveting techniques. Well, Jim seems to be hooked. He plans to order a RV-9A tail kit soon. Tonight, he came over and I showed him my completed empenage. Then, employing the 15 minute rule (any shop visitor who stays more than 15 minutes gets put to work), I handed Jim a rivet gun and pointed him to the fuselage. It soon became apparent that this was not Jim's first rodeo. He shot beautiful consistent rivets right off the bat. Apparently, someone who used to rebuild Ferraris knows a thing or two about metal construction. By the end of the night, we had finished all we could on the forward side skins. We had to leave many holes unriveted until other components are insatlled later. Now, the fuselage is ready to come out of the jig, but I dare not budge it one inch until Sam Beale comes back to the shop. He helped me rivet 90% of the fuselage and he has to be there when the fuselage jig gives birth.
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Jim Weed with the Vans tool box he constructed

Jim Weed with the Vans tool box he constructed

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Jim riveting the left forward side skin

Jim riveting the left forward side skin

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