My EAA tech inspector will be here in the morning to look over my work so I wanted to get the top side skin rivets in place before he gets here.

Finished up riveting the top side skin on the right hand upper HS. Getting a lot more comfortable with the riveting, I'm able to rivet with either hand and almost prefer to rivet left handed (holding the gun) to allow my right hand to control the bucking bar. It really is a feel thing and making sure the gun is set up correctly. I didn't mess up any rivets this evening so that's encouraging. The learning curve as of late has been steep and rewarding.

For example when riveting the skin on tonight, I left the opposite side skin un-attached to give my hand more room inside the structure to hold the bucking bar. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Just one of those things you start figuring out as you go! That won't be possible when I close up the opposite side but I've already riveted one half with it closed up so I know what I'm in for.

Also used less masking tape this evening, just covered the area below the rivet line on the shop head side. I also experimented with not covering the mushroom set head with any tape. One rivet was all it took to convince me that this wasn't a good idea after all. The one image shows a nice vertical row of flush rivets with the very top rivet showing where the mushroom set head marred the surface. The painter will ultimately scuff the surface up to prep for paint and this will all get covered up eventually. However I plan to fly the first year or so unpainted while I finish the Phase I test flights and save enough $$$ to pay for the paint job lol!