We continued work on covering the flaps this weekend. We used the extra material on the ends of the flaps to create flaps that we then folded over for covering them up. We had to cut some V-slots in the curved area of the leading edge to keep everything neat and prevent any folds in the material. Without knowing exactly how many slots to cut, Michael cut about 5 slots in each end on the flap he worked on, and I cut about 10 slots in mine. Turned out it didn't matter as both worked fine and we were both able to shape the fabric around the curved edge.
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| Fabric covering the end of the flap |
We also did a 3 stage shrink of the fabric on the flaps, which is always satisfying because it tightens up like a drum and starts to look like a real part.
We applied reinforcing tape over the ribs, burned through the tape and fabric at the rivet hole locations with a soldering iron, and installed the rib-stitching rivets. These rivets just add a little more insurance to ensure the fabric will always stay in place.
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| Rivets installed in the ribs |
Life isn't perfect, and I had one "oops" moment. The rivets near the trailing edge were a little tricky because there was not much room beneath them due to the taper, so we pulled them with the manual puller. On one of the rivets, the puller bounced on me when the shank popped, and the sharp end of the shank hit the fabric surface, making a small tear near the rivet head. So now I have a little spot where I need to make a patch. Not a big deal, but these things happen.
Hours: 5
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| To be fixed: a small tear on left side of this rivet |
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