side panel fitting

[misty]

hi all
just starting to fit a side panel, have all cut and bent over, but where to rivet. can you rivet along the side rather than under or on top where the bonnet fits .just thinking if i do rivet on the side it might look like a WW11 aircraft although that might look ok
any ideas welcome

[SeriesLandy]

I've seen it done where the panel is rivited along the top facing out and also down the diagonals. It looks ok but not my cup of tea.

Personally I don't want any fixings on show ( or as little as possible).
I'm thinking of fixing along the bottom and from the nose to the end of the scuttle and using sealant for the bit visable in the cockpit.
If the sealant isnt strong enough then using M5 ss dome head Allen bolts and rivnuts.

Ps I'm using fiberglass sides not ali.

[alga]

I was wondering, could the side panels be just bonded on?

Grp sides could be just bonded I suppose but they would be a cow to get off if you ever had to

[wylliezx9r]

I wouldn't rivet it at all, use flush fitting riv nuts and csk bolts to fasten at the top and bottom lips. Using this method you will have no protruding bolt heads and will be able to remove your side panels should you ever need to. The only place you will see the bolt heads is the area between the scuttle and the rear tub, but if you do a good job of countersinking the fibreglass it actually looks quite nice (racerish).
Anyway thats my two pennies worth, Dan

[AshG]

i riveted mine underneath every 2.5inch then did strategic rivets along the top where i knew the scuttle and nose cone would cover them. i also bonded them on as well just to make sure they weren't ever coming off

[AshG]

you can see the clecos in the top