hey guys im coming to the end of finishing my Yellow Aircraft P-47 and i need some advice for applying flush head rivets to the finish. i know about the burning process, i was just wondering if there were any different ways to apply them.

Thanks
Mitch

Boy I wish there was. I just spent a week putting abot 1500 of them on my Cessna 182T. Very time consuming. The biggest problem is that about every 10th to 15th rivet that you burn in the head comes out with the tool. Intseed of using the soldering iron I use a Top flite monokote trim iron easy to hold for me. My freind makes a tool on his lathe out of brass dowel with two different size choices one on each end and the center is thick enough so it fits snugly into the trim iron. Looks cool when done, but what a pain in the shorts. If you find a different way that is easier, let me know. Randy

I don't think you need to burn in the rivets. I have done it that way and i have also just used a sharpened brass tube and trotated it on the Primer. The both look pretty much the same to me.. In either case.. they both take time.

I've used Bob's method. It works well.

Any method of applying rivets is tedious at best.

Yeah, the method of the brass tube sharpened and rotated works great.
I will suggest you make a guide, in order to keep your rivest spaced equaly. Draw a line on a piece of evergreen plastic, mesure space you want between rivets, drill( I have template for 30 rivets on a line) cut the sheet in the middle of the holes, back on the line you traced. Apply this to your lines on the model, and go...
Equal and constant pressure is the key here to have even rivets
after painting, just rub a little pencil dust on the rivets, and then wipe the excess with a damp cloth..yu will be amazed.
By the way, consult your documentation, All the rivets of the Cessna are not flush!
Al

bye

The easiest way I have found is the rotating method, but use a Dremel varible speed moto tool to put the sharpened brass tube in. The Dremel is set up to take a 1/8" shank but by using sizes that fit together you can go up or down in diameter from there.

Could anyone explain to me what flush head rivets are exactly. I am intending on building a first scale model and am learning about all the techniques and methods available.
Maybe with a pic?

Thanks

A flush head rivet is a rivet that has a flat top, and when installed, there is a dimple in the skin that the rivet sets in, making the top of the rivet flush with the the surface of the skin. It's kind of like the difference between a round head screw and a taper head screw. A round head screw, when installed protrudes above the surface, whereas a taper head screw, when countersunk, will be flush to the surface. Flush head rivets are used on many aircraft to reduce drag.

I too am working on my first scale build and considering how (and indeed if) I will add rivets.

How about some good old pictures of what you guys are talking about. I like the sound of Al's where graphite is dusted on the rivet.

Go on someone must want to show their work off in a picture

JoLLy

Yeah, what's up with that?
P diddy...you've been posting all over the place about altered cowels, wheel pants, rivets, etc.
When are you going to show us some of your work? Bring it!

Randy, show 'em the pics of the P51 and Spitty that you sent me tonight, or maybe the Cessna. They're all great!

Yes. Bring that $#!+ up in here!

again, bye

a'ight then...we await!

[:@]

Yeah right. Here's another from the same group of photos you evidently shot.
P-diddy...you're dissapointing me. I hope that when you do post pics, that we won't be able to tell the difference between these pics of a 1:1 Cessna and your model.
Let's keep it real here, or should I say...a model of real.

Per Tom's request, here they are. Randy

Ya your right, I'm a liar.Do a search for 182T and you'll see the shop is the same. Sorry to the starter of this thread, did not intend to take it over with a stupid argument. Any further comments about me by SD should be made by a PM, lets not waste any more of these people's time. the full size picture was meant to be a joke.

see ya

I'm lost here guy's. I don't know what you're talking about. I also don't understand what is humorous, or meant to be a joke, about the post P diddy.
And I have an abundant sense of humor.

So, are those Puff Daddy's models? P-diddy, are you asking him if they are models? Did you forget a question mark?

Could'nt even begin to try to understand what the following means.
I guess there must be some previous knowledge that you all have.