Tasks Completed:
Note: There is a badly seated pop rivet on the most outboard leading edge section. I’ll need to go back and repair later.
I am getting adept at rolling leading edges now. With the QB wing on order however, this should be my last one! I got the clecos in but the edges will need some more work before I can drill and rivet.
Tasks Completed:
This evening the right elevator was completed. I doubled the number of pop rivets in the middle section to create a nice tight edge. I temporarily installed the elevator to the horizontal stab. It was very satisfying to see a moving control surface. I marked approximately where I need to remove some of the outboard edge of the HS to allow the counterbalance arm of the elevator to swing freely.
Tasks Completed:
I just returned from a week in LA shooting a spot. I was wiped out but managed to spend an hour tweaking the right elevator leading edge bend a little more. It’s coming along although it proving to be harder to get a good edge bend as compared to the rudder skin. Most of the issue is that the top edge should overlap on top of the bottom edge. However, for whatever reason Van’s made the bottom half longer than the top. So I am fighting the edges to line up and create a nice edge once the two halves are mated.
Tasks Completed:
Tonight I snuck down to the basement for a couple of hours. I started bending the leading edge of the right elevator. I was much more efficient with effort and the amount of duct tape compared with the rudder. I did notice the thinker skin on the elevator takes a bit more force to bend. I left the workshop with the edges clecoed together, but it needs more work before I can drill and rivet.
Tasks Completed:
I just recovered from a week long cold. I had to get back into the shop just to say I did something. So tonight I just chose to finished off the rudder leading edge. I got all of the pop rivets in except for the very top one. It does not sit well with the bulky pop rivet tool I have right now hitting the counterbalance skin and rib. I’ve read about getting a small cheap pop rivet tool that will fit better in a place like this.
Note: “Walking” the leading edge together with duct tape worked great this time and required much less effort than before.
–Continued to work on rudder leading edge
–Started trimming elevator stiffeners
I got the leading edges of the rudder clecoed– barely. They look ok. The creases aren’t very difficuly to see luckily. Also I relized I didn’t bend the edge of the skin where the 2 sides overlap. I don’t even have an edge bend tool yet. I sat the rudder aside to come back to and started working on the elevator stiffeners.
–Finished trailing edge riveting
–Started rolling leading edges
The trailing edge was finished with very good results. It’s well within spec. I’m very happy overall.Next up was the leading edges.
After testing a number options, I used a 3/4″ wooden dowel to roll the edges. The rolling went ok, but I still can’t get the 2 edges close enough to cleco. Also in trying the leading edge to bend more I slightly creased the leading edges. I finally gave up for the night fearing I would screw more stuff up.