RV-3B Aileron Gap rivet question

[Ironflight]

OK, for those of you playing with -3B's....we are using the standard Aileron Gap Seal piece (looks like a "7" from the end), and I am puzzling over the plans call-out for pop rivets where it meets the rear spar (on the bottom. Seems like since the bottom skin is still off, shooting solid rivets there is a no-brainer, and would look nicer. Can anyone think of a reason I have missed why those should be pops? Solid rivets should even have shorter shop heads, so it should be easier to get a bucking bar on the lower skin rivets when we do those.

(I know that Randy L. and others used an -8 part here, and yeah, that would be a lot easier for riveting the top line of rivets, but I got too far along before reading that particular pearl of wisdom, so we'll struggle with those....)

Paul

[mvs163]

Hi Paul,
FWIW, I used the stock part and also used 3/32 solids in the rear spar.
Some use the 1/8 pops on the top surface but I was able to use 3/32 solids here also with a long "L-shaped" bucking bar, drive these first of course.
You probably know this but you can adjust the upper skin to aileron gap with this part !
Mike

[Ironflight]

Thanks Mark - good to know I wasn't the only one who looked at the plans and said "huh?"

[az_gila]

Paul, could it be following the original RV-4/6 wing assembly sequence with the upper skins being riveted on last?

If that is the sequence assumed, then pop rivets are required....

Originally Posted by Ironflight

OK, for those of you playing with -3B's....we are using the standard Aileron Gap Seal piece (looks like a "7" from the end), and I am puzzling over the plans call-out for pop rivets where it meets the rear spar (on the bottom. Seems like since the bottom skin is still off, shooting solid rivets there is a no-brainer, and would look nicer. Can anyone think of a reason I have missed why those should be pops? Solid rivets should even have shorter shop heads, so it should be easier to get a bucking bar on the lower skin rivets when we do those.

(I know that Randy L. and others used an -8 part here, and yeah, that would be a lot easier for riveting the top line of rivets, but I got too far along before reading that particular pearl of wisdom, so we'll struggle with those....)

Paul

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by az_gila

Paul, could it be following the original RV-4/6 wing assembly sequence with the upper skins being riveted on last?

If that is the sequence assumed, then pop rivets are required....

That's the conclusion I came to Gil - that the original sequence had the wing closed up before someone figured a gap fairing would help....