Rivet : a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head.

1284, 1285, 1286 rivets ! Just to assemble the horizontal stabilizer, 960 only for the skin ! I have no intention to count every rivet for every assembly or even know the total amount but having finish the stabilizer, an impressive 3.6 meters long part, I just say to myself : let’s count it ! Knowing that each hole in an assembly must be drilled to the correct diameter, deburred each side, dimpled or countersunk, the parts painted before beeing reassembled and riveted, I let you calculate the average work time per hole….

The time, by the way, doesn’t interest me more than the number of rivet. It will take the time it takes to build this aircraft. I am determined to enjoy each and every construction sequence, each moment spent in the workshop and not to put the next years of my life in brackets to expedite the building of this plane as captivating as it is.

The rudder counts less rivet but calls for several new techniques in particular for rolling the leading edge. Technique closer, in my opinion, to pastry making (rolling of the puff pastry) than to aeronautical building, but the result is there, 3 aircraft parts already !

SOME PICTURES :