3.0 hrs, 48 rivets
Started by cleaning the last two inboard ribs. Then riveted them in. Took just a bit longer today, but I finally felt like it was done right. And that's all of the hard parts. The outboard ribs can be squeezed. The nose reinforcement plates and attach bracket have to be bucked, but that's easy compared to bucking ribs.



Tomorrow is a 3R9 work day, then more tank construction. Should be done with the tank this weekend.

2.3 hrs, 48 rivets
Broke the lull and actually riveted ribs to the tank. Various events, and reluctance, conspired to keep me from riveting on the tank. But got two ribs riveted in tonight. Only two more interior ribs to go, then it's downhill from there. Don't know why I'm so intimidated by the tank work right now. The other tank wasn't bad at all.

1.5hrs, 26 rivets
Worked on the tank today. Mixed up some proseal and got to work. Set two rivets to seal the tooling hole in the outboard rib.
Then got the center rib riveted in. Not happy with the riveting quality. Not sure why it's not as good as the other tank.

4.3 hrs, 120 rivets
Started this morning by cleaning the right tank skin and redoing the masking.
Then used the stripping wheel to roughen the tank ribs as was done for the left tank.
Washed the ribs again.
Then clecoed the ribs back into the tank skin, yet again.

About that time Ed Rupp, my riveting help, arrived. Used to work with Ed years ago at KMW/Andrew. We were having lunch yesterday when it came up that we were both pilots.
I mentioned a project, and Ed gets really excited: "Really! What kind?". Me, "An RV-9A."
Ed, "Oh, man, I've been researching Van's kits for a couple of years! Can I come over and see it?". Well, besides that fact that it's great having friends over, I can't imaging a kit builder who isn't happy to show off the project. And when you have rivets to drive, you're always on the lookout for help. "Sure, come on over. We'll learn how to rivet."



So we did a short course on sheet metal construction techniques. Ed's first rivets were way better than mine!

After lunch, we launched into riveting stiffeners to the left wing. That was 110 of the rivets.

Then with Ed (and Suanne's) help, we fine tuned the wing cradle and took the wing off the stand on to the cradle.



After Ed had to go, finished left rear spar skin riveting. The inboard 5 rivets are a bear, because of the spar doubler and interfering rivets. I had to grind down one of my bucking bars to get the job done right. It took a couple of attempts on most of those five rivets.

.6 hrs
Went flying today in one of the 172s. Picked up DT at Taylor (T74), made a short flight over his neighborhood, and returned to Taylor. Pulled up to the fuel island, and there was a pastel blue RV-8A there. After a bit, we walked over and introduced ourselves. The pilot was none other than Seth Hancock. I mentioned that I was building a 9A, and he asked me what the engine plan was. I said "probably a 320 of some kind", and he says, "I've got one on the stand you need to take a look at". I'm going to arrange a visit, but it's still too early.

One thing he asked is how I was preparing tank surfaces for sealing. He recommended ~150 grit sandpaper, and that my scotchbrite method is probably not best.

So tonight I removed all of the ribs, readjusting masking tape, and started resanding. I'm going to resand the skin for the outer ribs, and the tank baffle. I will also sand all of the ribs. To late to redo the stiffeners, and the other tank. I can't imagine the other tank will ever leak, I've seen what proseal can do, and how it was applied on the left tank.

Spent an hour last night working on the wing cradle.

.6 hrs
Debur right stringers.
Trim and deburr left outboard stringer.
Cleco left stringers to wing.

5 hrs, 367 rivets
A new one day rivet record! And knocking on the door of 5000 rivets, about the 25% mark, at least in terms of rivets.
Started today by masking the right tank skin to prepare for rib riveting. Then clecoed the interior ribs into the skin. This is way easier once everything is match drilled and dimpled. It becomes a one person job. After they were all in, remove the center rib and cleaned it one last time, along with the skin. Ready to proseal and rivet.



Then John McLellan (bro-n-law) came over to help with riveting. I decided to get the outboard wing skin done so I can get that wing off the stand and into the cradle. After training him we banged out some rivets, getting most of it done before he had to go home to get ready for the superbowl party. He sent Suanne over (my sister). She took a bit longer to train, but pretty soon she was going, "Oh, yah. Perfect!" Together with Suanne, we knocked out the rest of the outboard skin, except for a few rivets on the rear spar that I'll hit with a squeezer once it's on the cradle.



Now I'm ready for some football!