It finally happened
 

An oops big enough for me to come here. Yesterday I was back riveting the stiffeners onto the rudder skin when one rivet missed the plate.





When it happened I thought it wasn't a big deal and wouldn't cause any problems, but the more I look at it I'm thinking this might be a good time to call up Van's and get a replacement skin and stiffeners before I finish the rudder and then find out I should have replaced it. Any thoughts?

Replace it. Lesson learned and expect it to happen again.

Most of us do this for the learning aspect and of course the challenge. I doubt very seriously that anyone here popped out of their mother knowing how to build airplanes.

I'd replace otherwise I'd spend more time and lost sleep worrying about it than if I had just redone it. You'll find that once you make up your mind to re-do it, all the stress goes away!

Hey Greg........i did the same thing:( no question imho but to replace it. I worked on mine and seemed to get it pretty good....but as i wz really inspecting it there wz some "oil canning" happening in that area...that equals skin cracking and a new rudder later along with paint and potential in-flight failure....REPLACE SKIN & STIFFENER.....parts=<$100......nice looking rudder & peace of mind = PRICELESS:D Bonus....now u will have scrap sheetmetal around if u need it! :D:D

Welcome to the club! I had the pleasure of having Vans send me a new skin as well.

Yep, I did the same thing, went too far over the backing. It should on the hit list of most likely things to do. Eager, in the rhythm, focusing on the speed and WHAM, off the backing plate.

I was lucky, and it was recoverable.

Happy Building, Happy Thanksgiving.

wha?
 

Somebody made a mistake? I've never done that (sheepish grin)... Well.... just replace it and keep it around somehow. Maybe make it into furniture and it will be a cool conversation piece sometime. Perhaps if you are feeling froggy, and you want to play with lasers, you can mount some from the ceiling that point out where the borders of your backplate are. Best of luck with the new one.
Brian

Happened
 

If you're like me, you need a 24x36in. backplate!:p

I built two rudders also. Like they say, learn on the cheap parts.

FWIW I bought a 4' long piece of 1/4" thick steel about 1.5" wide from Lowes, that I used for riveting trailing edges, and also wish I would have had it for backriveting other parts. It is long enough that once it's lined up you don't have to worry about running off the end of it (except on the flaps), and you can stack two 1/8" pieces of board or masonite next to it to create a flush surface. This keeps you from having to move the part or the backrivet plate every few rivets.

Chris