You can see we have been hard at work. Here are both elevators side-by-side being assembled simultaneously. Here we're all drilled, deburred, dimpled, and almost all the stiffners are attached (only about 3 more to go as of this shot).
|
Here is the trim tab access panel assembled. We have opted to go with a manual trim for our plane. Van's manual is not very specific with the assembly of this part - but some forward thinking on Shannon's part made him think to attach the platenuts on to the reinforcement prior to attaching the assembly to the skin. It wouldn't have been horribly tragic had he not thought of it, but no doubt it would have been more cumbersome. Hopefully this helps some of you builders out there. As you can see here, we attached the platenuts (with the hand-squeezers), then back-riveted the assembly to the skin. After that side was completed, we attached the access panel to see that it fit as it should.
|
It turned out beautifully.
|
We're getting pretty thrifty these days too. The rivet tape is obviously invaluable... but we learned you can use the same strip a few times over and it works just fine. These pieces you see here have already served their purpose on both sides of the right elevator, and now doing a great job holding rivets in on the left. Next we'll be "wanging" down on the trailing edges in our homemade brake. Then we'll be attaching the spar and ribs and drilling. Almost done with the tail! And just in time... the wing should be here in a week or two (the "8 weeks" Van lists on the website is not entirely accurate. More like 10-11 weeks).
|
September 2005
Shannon discovered that the countersinking bit was chattering when he went to countersink the left elevator trim tab spar. He decided that skin was too thin too support the coutersink pilot, and so some backing would help support it and keep it from chattering. He was right! No chatter and a nicely formed countersink.
|
As you can see he simply used two pieces that were .032 thick and riveted them together so the overlapping bottom piece would sit flush with the spar. We then clecoed the two ends and drilled the two middle then moved it; repeat.
|
Just like the rudder, we have to bend the leading edge of the elevators. Here is the right elevator done. We are still working on the trim tab for the left and should have it completed soon.
|
Here is the right elevator for another angle showing the control horn.
|
