November 9, 2005 - Aft Fuse Riveting
I riveted the tailcone section and all the J-stringers myself.  Lots of rivets -- time-consuming.  The words so frequently heard by RV fliers "keep pounding those rivets" have real meaning when you're faced with hundreds of rivets to do. 
Two people are required to rivet the bottom skins to the side skins.  We started out with me sitting on the ground riveting up and Lynnette holding the bucking bar down.  While that worked, it was awkward, slow and tiring for me -- I could only go for an hour. 
The next night I tried putting the fuse on its side.  This worked great.  Riveting from the side was much easier and faster.  Lynnette had no problem holding the bucking bar from the side.  If only she could take this more seriously!  I mean, I'm going to be 8,000 feet in the air in this thing. 
OK, she's settled down.  Actually she does a great job and doesn't complain. 
Riveting away.  We finished riveting the bottom skin to side skins in two nights. 
 
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