[Milsurp]

I'm starting a 1919a4 build for the first time. My kit came with the r/s plate stub still attached. I drilled out the rivits and can't get the plate stub out. Is it keyed into the bottom plate or should I use a bigger hammer? I don't want to ruin anything so I figured I'd ask.

 

[Dave S]

If you drilled out the rivets, did you grind them down just about flush with the bottom plate. Get yourself a punch and a decent sized ballpein hammer. Tap the punch into the rivet holes that you drilled and ground down. There is probably a little bit of rivet surface holding the sideplate and bottom plate together on each of the rivets.

If you've already done that, then I'd look real close and careful for weld marks. While it's not a standard thing, I've heard of them being welded in the field as "Field Expedient" repair.

If that doesn't seem to be the case, then hopefully some others with experience taking them off the bottom plates will sound off with some other help.

 

[franks71vw]

My kit from OOW came with the stub and all rivets in place. All i did was remove the rivets and bang it out of place and it fell out no welds etc... Look carefully and becareful not to screw up your bottom plate...

 

[gunut]

Good advise Franks71vw,I bent my bottom plate getting rivets out but was able to straighten it with the help of a plinker buck bar.gunut

 

[Milsurp]

Got it off. Thanks for the advice guys. I'm sure there will be many more questions before I'm done.