Went SOLO again!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:54 am

Well, with my new found confidence in shooting and bucking solo on the flap brace the other day, I decided to go it alone on the inboard bottom skin (at least to start). It's not bad at all!! They turned out very acceptable, though it would be hard to tell either way, solo or with a partner, since you can't see the finished product very well.

Also, I used some pitot tubing to line the lightening holes to keep from slicing and dicing my forearms...works GREAT!!

dons · Post by **dons** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:34 pm

That's great news Chad as I don't have someone to help, so the more I can do by myself the better. I have been warned that I will need help when it comes to certain parts on the fuselage, but I was hoping I could do the wings without too much help (in person that is). Good tip about protecting the arms, I will remember that one, thanks.

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:15 pm

Chad,

Great pictures of how you setup a single person rivet session.

The picture of the rivets on the outside won't tell the story much though on how they came out, so be sure to check your rivets with a light and a mirror on the inside.

Keep at it, and you'll be ready for the fuselage in no time.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:51 pm

Yeah, I checked most of them with a mirror and light. I also did the "finger" check as I went along...by pushing the tip of my finger in to the shop head to see if it was set approximately correct. I'll check 'em all before I finish closing it up.

Thanks!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:56 pm

Chad, honest to GOD...

I have NO IDEA how you could have POSSIBLY done that alone!

My arms won't even FIT in the holes! You must have a prehensile appendage or something! Maybe you should consider porn movies!?!

If it weren't for Wicked Rivet, I would have had to pull 'em all!

I just did some more tonight with Thermos and Bill H's help.

Now, I can buck the rest of the inner skins my damn self!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:25 pm

captain_john wrote:Chad, honest to GOD...

I have NO IDEA how you could have POSSIBLY done that alone!

My arms won't even FIT in the holes! You must have a prehensile appendage or something! Maybe you should consider porn movies!?!

HA!! Don't think my wife would be to terribley agreeable with that! Ask me how I know...JUST KIDDING!!!!

My wrist was a little sore after getting at those rear spar rivets...

My dad is coming over tomorrow night to help finish out this wing. I wouldn't mind so much finishing it myself at this point, but the TIME is takes to shoot 'em solo!

It took me three hours last night just to get that amount done!!

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:16 pm

Way to go Chad. That's exactly how I did it too. Coat hanger through a rivet hole in the skin to hold it up out of the way and rivet it solo as best I could. I did both wings completely solo. I wasn't smart enough to think of your tubing trick through. I just point to the scars and say, "I got that one from rib #5, and that one from rib #6, and that one from rib #7...oh and that one from drilling into my finger, twice!"

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:21 pm

cjensen wrote:Yeah, I checked most of them with a mirror and light. I also did the "finger" check as I went along...by pushing the tip of my finger in to the shop head to see if it was set approximately correct. I'll check 'em all before I finish closing it up.

Thanks!

Please do... on my first flight I found a rivet that looked great but wasn't set properly. I found out because as soon as I lifted off the rivet popped up! When I landed I couldn't find it! Grrrrr! I had to roll some duct tape around my fingers sticky side out and stick it on every rivet until I found the one that popped up. It was driven just enough to stay captive in the hole and was a bear to get out! Now there is a pop rivet there. Of course it had to be right smack in the middle of the wing!

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:26 pm

Chad, that looks great! I'm getting ready to rivet my bottom skins and will be doing a fair amount of it by myself also. Good to see your procedures and approach.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:36 pm

Good work Chad

I really like that green air tubing. Where did you get it?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:04 pm

It's the Safe Air Pitot/Static Kit (static line is white). All the plumbing needed for both systems, and it's nice top notch hardware. About $100.

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:39 am

GREAT WORK CHAD!! You're a BRAVE sole to try those solo!!!

- Peter

Dan A · Post by **Dan A** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:54 pm

I did allthe riviting on my wings by myself. not a big deal. Right Chad?! I curved the skins from front to back instead of inboard to outboard. Either way works. good luck with'em!

Dan A N742DA 117.4 hrs.