Sunday, September 7, 2014

F-1240 Upper Forward Fuselage Skin Completed

The 18 nutplates for the F-1202D L&R panel attach strips were dimpled then riveted onto the panel attach strips using the AN426AD3-3.5 rivets called for in the plans.
Riveting nutplates onto the F-1202D-L panel attach strip using the pneumatic rivet squeezer.

Once all the nutplates were riveted onto the F-1202D-L&R panel attach strips, they were Clecoed back onto the F-1240 upper forward fuselage skin for riveting. I discovered early on the pneumatic rivet squeezer was difficult to use for riveting the panel strips onto the F-1240 skin for a multitude of reasons. Most importantly every other rivet is very close to a nutplate and it was difficult to stay clear of the nutplates and the pneumatic squeezer was cumbersome to hold upside especially with the hose pulling down. Because it wanted to snag the nutplates, I gave up on it after the second rivet and switched to a more controllable manual rivet squeezer. Riveting began in the center and progressed towards the left and right side of the fuselage.
Securing the F-1202D-L panel strip onto the F-1240 upper forward fuselage skin with Clecos in preparation for riveting.
Using the manual rivet squeezer to rivet the F-1202D-L panel attach strip onto the F-1240 upper forward fuselage skin with AN426AD3-3.5 rivets.

Because I needed to be standing on a step stool, it was impossible to get a visual on the position of the squeezer or the shaft of the rivet so the first few rivets were VERY awkward to set … and I did not have another set of eyes available to use as a spotter. So I decided to make measurements on what it would take for the bottom rivet set to clear the nutplates installed on the F-1202D panel attach strips. A red line was marked adjacent to each rivet and the rivet sets were kept at or forward of the line so the lower rivet set would clear the obstacles.  Took a lot more time doing it this way, but the end result was worth it.
Red lines used to make sure the rivet set stayed forward of the line in order to clear the nutplates on the F-1202D panel attach strips.
Almost done with riveting the F-1202D-L panel attach strip onto the F-1240 upper forward fuselage skin.
Finished – both F-1202D-L&R panel attach strips riveted onto the F-1240 upper forward fuselage skin.