Yeah it's pretty blurry, but I see what you mean.
JCshots006.jpg with Strupip matches the schematics - looks like only one line of medium sized rivets ought to be very visible near the outside end, and everything else is small rivets on the hstab only. I can't tell for sure, but I can't spot the lateral rivet line that should be on the hstab, just ahead of the leading edge of the vator. I guess these small sized rivets were really easily concealed under paint. Only the medium and larger rivets seem to be clearly visible at all times.
Then again #9 shows what should be small size rivets as a bit more contrasting, although it's still not very visible. Still a lot less contrasting than the default skin rivets. #3 is a bit more dark still, though it looks like it's only the outside of the rivet heads that are dark.
Looks like you didn't upload #12. 13 does look very homogeneous, barely any hint of the panels or their bends, or rivets. Same thing on #11. Same thing on #7 on the front end of the nose, and it looks like it's just a matter of how new the paint layer is.. On the same plane, further back on the fuselage, you can see the rivet lines more clearly.. On #6 you have both the barely visible rivets on the hstabs, and clearly visible ones on the tail surface in the background. Weathering on the rivets plays a big part.
Thanks for the pics, they're really good reference.
