Dan dimpled the hoizintal stab frame and skins and I finished preparing the frame parts for priming.
We found a used DRDT-2 dimpler for sale on the Vans Air Force website last fall and used it with a 120 degree pop rivet dimple die from Avery (We also evaluated the Cleveland die and the results are the same.) The DRDT-2 made the dimpling go really fast, but there are a few places that cannot fit (notice just below the die on the bottom beam in the picture).
Dan had modified a pair of large vice lock pliers. A freind welded on some smal channel to the jaws. The top channel has a hole for the male die half. The lower channel has a 120 degree counter sink hole with a through hole for the male die pin, essentially Dan replicated the female side of the dimple die in the lower channel. We’ll post a picture. It works really well, fits in all the tight corners on flanges.
I prepped the frame parts for priming by roughing them up with 240 grit sandpaper to take the shine off and get some swirls. I would finish up with maroon Scotchbite pad. Lots of surfaces to cover.
