so after learning the lesson on the VS, I carefully shaped the HS nose ribs so as to not scratch or deform the skin, and life was good. then I discovered what fun the most forward rivets in these ribs are. For the most part, I got clean and acceptable rivets after enough swearing, but the sad end of the story is that the back corner of the bucking bar apparently got loose a time or two and did a number on the opposite surface instead, forward of the foremost rivet 
. I had trouble getting a pic that didn't make it look either better or worse than it is; the surface is dented outwards, .020" at worst:
...with corresponding ugly gouges on the inside. my inclination is to smooth it as much as I can, sand and touch the inside with primer, and move on - clean it up the rest of the way with filler before paint.
* would that be a mistake?
* any advice on a technique for smoothing?
. I had trouble getting a pic that didn't make it look either better or worse than it is; the surface is dented outwards, .020" at worst:
...with corresponding ugly gouges on the inside. my inclination is to smooth it as much as I can, sand and touch the inside with primer, and move on - clean it up the rest of the way with filler before paint.
* would that be a mistake?
* any advice on a technique for smoothing?
