1.0 Hours -
Thanks to a refund check from Uncle Sam, I ordered my electric trim kit from Van’s (yes, I’ve tossed out the idea of manual trim). Unfortunately, this puts much of my left elevator work on hold while I wait for the trim components to arrive. According to the plans, it is easier to install the trim servo prior to riveting the left elevator. This way, you still have access to both sides of the servo. Once riveted, you only have access through the trim access panel.
With this in mind, about the only things I can do are to bend the elevator tabs and start the trim tab. I opted to bend the elevator tabs today.
First, I placed my bending blocks into position. I used double-sided tape on the angled sides to hold everything in-line and clamps on the entire assembly to make sure everything was nice and tight against the table. Once the blocks were set, I used another wood block to start bending the bottom tab down.
My bending block setup for the elevator tabs.
Once the bend was as bent as I could get it with the wood block, I pulled out my rivet gun, put in a flush set, and turned the pressure way down to 10 PSI. The flush set was, more or less, used to beat the bend into submission. Before the rivet gun, the bend was about 75 degrees. The rivet gun allowed me to reach the final, 90 degree angle.
This was then repeated by bending the top tab up. The top tab has to be over the bottom tab in order to prevent water from entering the elevator. The final result was pretty descent, although, the rivet gun did leave a few dents, but these won’t be visible once the trim tab is in place.
I used a wood block to start the bends. My rivet gun, with a flush set, turned way down to about 10 PSI, was used to finish the bends.
For now, I’m happy with the bends. However, I’ll wait to place my final judgment until the elevator is riveted and I can see how flat the bends are. I really thought this would be harder and take longer since so many builders have problems with it. In all honesty, I expected my bends to look horrible, leaving me no option but to cut the tabs off and replace them with a homemade riblet. Looks like I may have to wait even longer to use my bending brake.
Not bad. A few dents from the rivet gun, but I'm happy with it overall. Does this mean no riblets?
To wrap up the day, I started to rivet the counterbalance skin to the main skin. As with the right elevator, two rivets are set in both the top and bottom now so that you don’t have to use blind rivets later.
As with the right elevator, two rivets are set on both the top and bottom now to avoid pop rivets later.
