Brief Description: Initial Riveting of the HS Understructure
Finally got to drive rivets today! Started by riveting the reinforcement bars onto the rear HS spar. Used a pneumatic squeezer which is much easier than the hand squeezer. Next I riveted the 8 hinge brackets to the back of the rear spar.
Then I riveted the front and middle ribs to the front spar. Couldn't get to those rivets with the pneumatic squeezer so I had to use the rivet gun and bucking bar to set them. It took a little practice and I had to drill out and replace 5 rivets before I started getting better at riveting. I'm also getting better at drilling out rivets :)
Rear spar with reinforcement bars riveted. Select holes taped off for hinge brackets.
Front spar with the center, front and middle ribs riveted in place.
Better view of the ribs riveted to the front spar.