[Gil]

Rivets are a very distinct detail of the DC-3 requiring a certain amount of attention to their detail in order to obtain the right look...,

Rivet patterns and the size and type of rivet used varies according to the airframe support structure underneath and in some cases a unique purpose on each aircraft. Notice also from the image above the way in which the skin overlaps in a typical shingle pattern "over" down to bottom, fore to aft and that not all rivets are round headed.

In general flush head riveting was considered too expensive for use in transport aircraft production until the 1950's when jet powered transport aircraft mandated their use. High performance fighter aircraft of this same general period used flush riveting for the performance gain giving this genre of aircraft a sleeker look...,


+Gil