1.5 Hours -
Maybe the third time is the charm. Rolling the right elevator’s leading edge seemed to go much easier than both the rudder and the left elevator. However, there’s still got to be a better way to do this…or at least some more tricks!
The left elevator’s leading edge was already rolled, so I started the evening by drilling and riveting it. Pop rivets are used here and setting them was a non-issue. If I ever build an RV-12, which uses mostly pop rivets instead of solid, I would definitely want to get a pneumatic pop rivet puller.
The leading edges of both elevators have been rolled, drilled and riveted. The left elevator is pictured here.
Once the left elevator was done, I repeated everything on the right. This time, I rolled the top skin first and the bottom skin second. Since the second skin always has to be rolled under the first skin to get the correct bend, I figured this would save me the hassle of pulling the top skin back out after the bends were complete. The only area that I had trouble on the right elevator was the short, outer section. This spot is only about 5 inches long and the counterweight assembly blocks your access to one side. Since I could only grip the dowel with one vise-group, I was having trouble getting a nice even bend. Some waviness resulted in the final product, but no big deal in my opinion.
Finally, I was able to pull my homemade rod-end bearing installation tool out of the toolbox for the first time. When installing the rod-end bearings, a nut, called a jam nut, goes on the rod-end bearing first and then the assembly is screwed into a nutplate. Once the desired depth is reached, the jam nut can be screwed down onto the spar. At least this is how I think it is done, but I can’t really figure out the purpose of the jam nut. I guess it is anti-rotational, but won’t the brackets on the horizontal stabilizer also immobilize the bearing and prevent it from turning either direction? I guess a search of vansairforce.net is in order.
I was finally able to use my homemade rod-end bearing installation tool.
An installed rod-end bearing in the right elevator.
All of the empennage structures are now complete. All that is left is some final work to fit the elevators to the horizontal stabilizer and installation of the fiberglass tips (which may wait until the airplane is almost done).
The main structures of the empennage are done. All that remains is some finishing work and fiberglass.
