My first BIG mistake... :-(

Closterman · #1 03-02-2011, 09:25 PM

Ok, I need help for this one.. I dimple the rudder skin whit a pneumatic sqeezer when I slip and do another hole just beside the good one...
I admit that is not a good idea...
What can I do now ? Buy another skin or I can repear ?

Thanks for any help !

Flyguytki · #2 03-02-2011, 09:49 PM

Dont worry It has happened to all of us. My recomendation would be to drill 2 new holes one on either side of your slip up, Flatten both holes on the skin, (the mess up hole and the one adjacent to it) dont worry about flattening it on the rib, dimple the new holes and put rivets in the new holes. Alot of people end up fiberglassing over these rivets lines anyways so you can just fill it fiberglass over the 2 mess up holes.

Probably sounds very confusing if so I will try to explain better.

-david

bret · #3 03-02-2011, 09:59 PM

I did that with my DRT2, DRILL a hole?, why not just punch a hole where you dont want one. GRRRR!

roee · #4 03-02-2011, 10:01 PM

Martin,

This mistake is known as the dreaded dimple eight (because of the "8" shape formed by the original hole and the accidental hole made with the dimple die). It is a common mistake many of us have made once (hopefully only once), usually on one of the empennage skins. It is a right of passage. Welcome to the club.

Search the forum and you will find many threads about it, and many differing opinions on how best to proceed.

-Roee

1911pilot · #5 03-03-2011, 03:21 AM

I've got one on my rudder skin on one of the lower spar holes, it was a little closer than yours and when I dimpled the correct hole it cleaned up the nasty one...

Vans official verdict?

"Cover it with filler when you paint, Build on."

If I remember correctly I've got one on my HS as well but I took a ~4+ year break between the VS and Rudder...

1911pilot · #6 03-03-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bret

I did that with my DRT2, DRILL a hole?, why not just punch a hole where you dont want one. GRRRR!

Bret,
That's interesting to hear, I was so mad after I added the hole to my rudder I was thinking about getting a DRDT2 just so that wouldn't happen again!

yakdriver · #7 03-03-2011, 06:41 AM

That is an area that will have filler on it anyway. Build on. Don

bret · #8 03-03-2011, 06:53 AM

The DRT2 is the way to go, or the front end kit if you are frugal like me, 4 times faster, and my rhythm was going faster than my brain. The rudder skin is so thin I didn't even know I did it, I was going mostly by feel and look, now I look, feel then JAM! do not be afraid of over dimpling, I have a few proud rivets cause I was overly cautious.

Maxrate · #9 03-03-2011, 08:21 AM

Martin,

It looks like that is towards the top of the skin. I believe you may be able to straighten out the damaged area and drill it out, and debur it. Then set a rivet in the original hole. When you put on the top fairing, then you will have sufficent strength to put epoxy over the whole area without compromising strength. At least the damage is not in the middle of the rudder skin. Another option would be to drill a hole on either side of the damaged area, dimple and set two rivets. Them cover with epoxy when you put on the top fairing.

Good luck....

aarvig · #10 03-03-2011, 08:36 AM

Everyone has great advice. The bottom line...don't sweat it. Repair it and move on otherwise you will never finish the plane.

Perfection is the enemy of progress. (Not sure who said that but it wasn't me).