Today I finished the left aileron by installing the main ribs, completing the riveting of the counterbalance pipe and bottom side of the skins, and attaching the hinge brackets.
Photo 1 shows a counterbalance pipe hole in the nose skin dimpled by a 1/8" standard male die and a rivet gun set specially made to accept dimple dies. The manual says the skin should conform to the machine countersink in the pipe when the rivet is pulled, but I didn't take any chances.
As with the right aileron, I used a sturdy old desk with a very flat top to finish riveting the bottom side of the aileron. I weighted the aileron down with books to ensure it remained flat during riveting. I thought it was appropriate that one of the books was my "Applied Electronics" textbook (photo 2, top right) from college; one of the books that enabled me to be able to afford this project.
Rivets Today: 108 Rivets Total: 6742
I dimpled these holes with a standard male 1/8" die on a rivet gun set.
