Japanese POP (aka blind) rivets
- Thread starter bauple58
- Start date
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MiTasol
Captain
The only person who I can think of who could answer that is
GregP
as he has access to one and has worked on it many times.
I certainly never saw pop rivets on any Japanese aircraft but I was not looking for them. I do think however that if I had seen one it would have registered as their technology was not only interesting but in many ways ahead of both US and British aircraft.
GregP
as he has access to one and has worked on it many times.I certainly never saw pop rivets on any Japanese aircraft but I was not looking for them. I do think however that if I had seen one it would have registered as their technology was not only interesting but in many ways ahead of both US and British aircraft.
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GregP
Major
Hi Good question!
I have never seen one, but also never LOOKED for one. I'd LIKE to say "no," but the truth is I'm not sure. To date, everythying I have seen was a normal rivet. Tell you what ... I'll try to find out within a week or so. I know someone who will certainly know the answer.
I have never seen one, but also never LOOKED for one. I'd LIKE to say "no," but the truth is I'm not sure. To date, everythying I have seen was a normal rivet. Tell you what ... I'll try to find out within a week or so. I know someone who will certainly know the answer.
RichardSuhkoi
Airman 1st Class
- 183
- Apr 27, 2021
About 50 years ago a Canadian man was building a Zero and he used only pop rivets (expander ball) as a concession to the amount of labour. If I remember correctly he increased rivet diameter to get closer to proper cold formed rivets. I was told that explosive rivets were in use in many places where an assembly didn't allow the use of a bucking weight (no room to get behind).
MiTasol
Captain
Yeah Bob Dearmit? used pop rivets and if my memory is correct an R-2600. I wonder what happened to that.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Sounds like a Bearwurger. Wurgercat? Bet it looked like a Gloster.
I think I got 'em all.
I think I got 'em all.
RichardSuhkoi
Airman 1st Class
- 183
- Apr 27, 2021
Wow! You have a sharp memory. I found this in my;
View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/peden/48939678408
MIflyer
Captain
There is a repair procedure for Ercoupes from the 1940's that specifies the use of explosive rivets, so they might possibly have been available to the Japanese in WW2.
MiTasol
Captain
The British and Americans used explosive rivets pre war so there is no reason to believe the Japanese and other nations did not.
GregP
Major
We (not me, the Planes of Fame) have an Aichi D3A Val that came from Canada. The guy who had it put in a ot of pop rivets. It had an R-2600 on the front and will have to be completely restored to ever get airworthy.
The guy used dime-store pop rivets and his workmanship reminds me of the first efforts to make things after seeing tools for the first time. Let's just say the quality of his woik does NOT make the word "quality" seem possible.
So, yes ... that airplane has actual pop rivet in it.
The A6M-5 Zero we have might or might not have a few pop rivets, but none where they are structural.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
An actual Val? Not one of the Tora Tora Tora planes?
GregP
Major
I spoke with Cory O'Brian who did the major overhaul on the Planes of Fame A6M5 about 8 - 10 years ago. The Zero came apart down to all major assemblies and down to bare metal, with all control cables and pulleys being replaced with new items.
He cannot recall a single pop rivet anywhere in the A6M5 Model 52 Zero, other than "perhaps on instrument boxes" and such. That is, none in the airframe, with maybe a few in minor subassemblies like a radio box.
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GregP
Major
Actual Aichi D3A, but without the Japanese engine. It had an R-2600 in it!
Needs a complete restoration, but will likely have to be of the "copy old parts to make new ones" type of work.
MiTasol
Captain
Dearmit also "restored" a Hurricane. I do not know what happened to that but his workmanship and materials on that were just as woeful.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I'd love to see a Val flying.
GregP
Major
Me, too.
I spoke with Steve Hinton yestewrday about various things, mostly not for internet discussion. One of them was our Gloster Meteor, which flew in over a year and a half ago. I'd love to see it fly again.
He said he'd love to get it flying and he can think of 1,000 reasons to get it lfying for the museum ... but 1,002 reasons why NOT to do just now. Chief among them is the fact that we JUST broke ground on our new facility at Santa Maria airport. Until it is built and populated, and up and running, projects may be more or less on hold for a bit.
I spoke with Steve Hinton yestewrday about various things, mostly not for internet discussion. One of them was our Gloster Meteor, which flew in over a year and a half ago. I'd love to see it fly again.
He said he'd love to get it flying and he can think of 1,000 reasons to get it lfying for the museum ... but 1,002 reasons why NOT to do just now. Chief among them is the fact that we JUST broke ground on our new facility at Santa Maria airport. Until it is built and populated, and up and running, projects may be more or less on hold for a bit.
I *think* it is the static Zero now on display at Ford Island
GregP
Major
Hi Jove23!
If you could send me a digital copy, I'd be very grateful and will pass it to the Museum in your name. PM me if you can see your way clear for this.
Much appreciated!
If you could send me a digital copy, I'd be very grateful and will pass it to the Museum in your name. PM me if you can see your way clear for this.
Much appreciated!
