Toolbox practice kit

Having the right tools is obviously a necessity for projects like this but I was still amazed at how easy it really was to put this together. Reading all the other forums, that obviously just a result of an easy starter kit plus the quality from Vans.

Having said that, I still had a couple of issues but mainly due to the first time I've set a rivet and used all these awesome tools. I think this was my first dodgy rivet.

As this was 2 years ago, it looks as though it was just not squeezed enough.

Lining up and match drilling the aluminium strip...

Lining up and match drilling the lid piano hinge. Again - the right tool for the job make life easy. This would be very awkward without the 12" drill bit.

Just checking to see if everything fits...

Match drilling the top section of the piano hinge to the lid...

Lid dimpled using the squeezer...

Just thought I'd post a close-up of a couple of dimples. I love how these tools mould the aluminium to shape.

 Before riveting...

and after...

If all the rivets on the plane turn out like the ones above, I'll be very happy. Something tells me that's wishful thinking though.

This one was squashed a little too much.

Better...

These little suckers are for the front stiffener.

One end done. The dimpled rivets are nice and flush

The row of AN470 rivets look good. A symmetric industrial look. I like.

RV Practice Kit - Toolbox

I ordered both practice kits at the same time and attempted the Toolbox kit first. Unfortunately I didn't take note of the stats or durations spent on these activities. I built this kit soon after receiving it, I'm guessing I would've had it completed within a couple of days as I was eager to put the newly purchased tools to use on some aluminium.

Looking back on some of the little mistakes can be helpful when the real thing comes along. After all, it is a practice kit.

RV Practice Kit - Wing Section

This page is all about the RV Training Project. (Click the link to be taken to the Vans Aircraft site)

Rivet Gun (Avery Tools)

I was soooo looking forward to owning and trying my first rivet gun, so I bought this one....

Looks nice. Clean. New. All the forums I read and even the people I spoke to who had built or are building an aluminium aircraft said the 3X pneumatic rivet gun was the one to get. It's a good compromise of weight and power. It'll set those slightly larger rivets demanded from it by the Vans kits.

So why did I buy the 2X Rivet gun???! Not really sure. I'm guessing I pressed the wrong button when I ordered it. Oh, well. I now have a rivet gun to learn with as it's going to be a little while before I need the next one up and the 2X should do the smaller rivets just fine.

This is the one I meant to get...

Yep, I agree - looks the same.......except for the little '3' in place of the '2' and a little more weight behind it. Maybe they even used the same photo.

Tools

A mandatory component of every proper bachelor pad is the Workshop and no workshop is complete without heaps of tools. It's not quite Tim The Toolman Taylor's workshop (from Home Improvement) but I'm working on it. All the improvements will be added here.