Trim Tab - Victory !

OK, I know I don't have pics of all the detailed work going into it, but this weekend I was able to crank out a perfect trim tab. Here are some pics of the finished product. I found out that the twist in the tab is fully dependant on the folded tabs where the pop rivets go. Don't drill the holes until you have it mounted on the Elevator and can twist to make sure it is straight with the trailing edge. Then drill the holes and install the pop rivets. This is done after the bottom of the trim tab spar is riveted in place. The tab can twist ever so slightly but makes a big different with alignment when it is done, and if you don't get it right will not align with the trailing edge.

Wings come next week and will give me just enough time to work out some of the fiberglass tips on the Emp..

Trim Tab

Spent a couple of hours on the trim tab, mainly working on getting the bends exact. You can see in the picture how I used a piece of Iron Wood (IPE) in a vice to support the tab. The bends came out really good, now lets just see if I can keep this trim tab straight as it goes together.

Still Here

Don't give up on me.. I am still here, just not making progress by leaps and bounds right now. Waiting on the wings and slowly working on items in the garage. Been so hot in Seattle these days, can't stand to be out there for more than a few minutes at a time. I am aligning the elevators on the HS, trimming some excess skin and getting ready to final drill the root ends of each Elevator.

I have to confess, the first trim Tab I but together came out with the trailing edge not square, so I am onto my second tab like so many other builders. Will get some pics of that as I get it together..

Rebekah is heading out of country in the next couple weeks so expect some fast and furious progress and lots of updates.

Left Elevator Trim Tab bending

OK, after much thought and preparation I bent the tabs on the left elevator that close out the rear section where the trim tab is installed. I think I got them bent perfectly, but won't be able to tell until I get the trim tab made and set into place. I also finished all the metal prep work on the skelleton and will prime in my next session. The use of the flat rivet set worked really well, I turned down the pressure and ran it along the bend softly and slowly. It flattened the edges out really well. Note to builders: The elevator is upside down in the pictures so the upper tab is folded "over" the lower tab.

Next sessions will include priming, then onto final assembly of the left Elevator.

Left Elevator Trim Access

I ended up dimpling the nutplates, then backriveting the nutplates onto the stiffener, then backriveting the stiffener onto the Skin. I have seen on other sites where the plate/stiffener ends up warping until it is mated with the skin and in final assembly.. Dimpling the nutplates and backriveting to the plate before back riveting it to the skin made it next to perfect. Was really excited how this piece went together.