Dent in vertical stabilizer
 

I finally felt that I had enough practice to start riveting the vertical stabilizer. I think that my son wasn't holding the bucking bar tightly enough and let it bounce off the rivet, denting the skin from the inside. Can someone let me know if this is something that can be repaired or if I need to start over with a new skin? It appears to be less than a 1/16".

https://youtu.be/_aZl6ST59Os

Call your local ?Paintless Dent Repair? guy and he?ll probably be able to make it disappear. If not he can make it a shallow inward dent that can be filled before painting.

Dent
 

That is not just a dent, it is a priceless memory of time with your son.

The perfect airplane has never, and will never, be built...

I have one of those. Fortunately it is on forward most skin on the tailcone. So, when it disappears behind the paint on the outside, every time I crawl into the tail cone, I will be able to see it. Bob, thanks of the perspective, I will forever look at that dent differently.

Thanks
 

I will share your comments with my son. I had to make sure he knew I wasn?t mad at him, since I was pretty frustrated when it happened. But only frustrated with myself. Glad to know it shouldn?t be a big deal.

Amen!

Mine has little reminders like that too and it just adds interest and character.

And there will be more dents and dings later on, from normal use, but it will still be safe, and fly just as well!

Dent Removal
 

Check out Sakkie VanHeerden at Serpentine (the guy with the RV-8A and twin jet Cri-Cri). He is an ace at paintless dent removal.
Cheers,
Rob

Doesn?t look too bad. I find that if I?m using the help of somebody with less experience, put them on the gun. The more experienced person should be on the bucking bar. Sounds backwards, but try that on some scrap and see if it works for you.

I had a couple of those on the HS - barely noticed once the airplane was flying. The imperfections you notice will be ignored by almost everyone else.

Matt
try and use your back riveting plate on the outside and tap that area with a sheet metal hammer or a brand new ball peen and it should virtually disappear for you, got to hold that backing plate tight to the skin , or remove all the rivets and use your back riveting plate like a anvil , that way you have lots of area to work with , one of my skins was damaged in shipping and now it?s invisible
Good luck !