I don't have many pictures of the practice kit since I'm still trying to do catch-up with blogging and hadn't really thought about documenting the process at that point. I ordered the "training project" kit from Van's to fumble my way through working with aluminum and these specialty tools I've never used before. The kit comes with two separate projects - one that walks through the process of prepping and riveting angle and skins together, and a second one that is a mini airfoil.
Airfoil - Trimmed the stiffeners, match drilled to size, deburred, dimpled them and the skins, and back riveted it all together.
Cleco the ribs in place, match drill to final size, pull apart, deburr and dimple. Only after all of those steps are you actually ready to rivet.
I was rolling at this point and thought I'd get the airfoil done so I could hang it on the wall, but as luck would have it, one of the tools I needed to finish the job is still on back order. The rib ends are very tight, and there's no easy way to dimple them. I have a dimple die on order that is for tight spaces like this, but like everything else these days, it's back ordered. So for now, the practice project will remain incomplete.
