Empennage

Horiz Stab (2 hrs)

Cont'd Step 4 on Sect 8-12:  Finished 3 more sides along Rear Spar.  Pleased with straightness and no waviness.    

Squeezing last few 426  3-4  flush rivets along Rear Spar.

Removed H.S. from four cradles, and rotated into "flat" position onto carpet over work tables.

Finally riveted center two Nose Ribs, including 5 (x2) rivets to Front Spar  using 470 rivets 4-7 and 4-8.

Needed the Offset cup rivet set tool in the rivet gun to reach these.   Required increasing pressure several clicks -- seems offset absorbs considerable energy.

Done with Sect 8 !   On to Elevators in Sect 9....

Empennage

Horiz Stab (3.5 hrs)

Sect 8-12 ( and 13 map).   Riveted remaining Inspar Ribs, including ends with  Nose Ribs.

before finishing end ribs....

Step 3:  Added Rear Spar.    Blind riveted spar to inner ribs, and riveted using 470 Universal heads into end ribs and 2 center ribs.

Step 4:  Did first 1/4 along Rear Spar at skin to flange rivet line (bottom left skin).  These go quickly with easy access while using squeezer.

Empennage

Horiz Stab (1.5 hrs)

Sect 8-12 (& page 13 is a map of rivets lengths),  Continued Step 2:  Finished riveting Top side to Inspar Ribs - except each end ( I plan to use rivet squeezer for those).  Partially done with bottom side.

I'd work longer, but it's time to go flying !   My wife and I taking turns this afternoon flying our club's C172.

Empennage

Horiz Stab (2.0 hrs)

Continued riveting "up to Stringers" (ie vertical lines near center).   Then riveted along Stringers (ie horizontally).   Then, per instructions, finish riveting to the remainder of Inspar Ribs...ie all remaining.

Fewer and fewer clecos.   Mostly done in center region...

Empennage

Horiz Stab (1.5 hrs)

Step 2 Sect 8-12:  Continued riveting along Rib flanges at inner sub-assembly...up to the Stringers as specified in instructions.    This area is kinda challenging since reaching with bucking bar is mostly blind; or by feel....since space and sightline is constrained by Stringers.

Empennage

Horiz Stab (5.0 hrs)

Cont'd with Sect 8-12 at Step 1:  Riveting along Front Spar flanges for all four sides (R & L, Top & Bott)  using page 8-13 "map" of rivet lengths (four different lengths).   Being really careful to insure smooth as possible for these flush rivets.   Looking great !

I did 208 rivets.  This is approximately 1.5 minutes per rivet ...some were quick (less than 20 seconds), but many took some attention to align bucking bar, insure all layers "compressed", and apply rivet tape.    Another builder shared with me his tip to use rivet tape on each flush rivet to limit sliding or movement of the rivet gun.  Seems to work for me, but does take more time.

For the last one of 4 sides,  I applied masking tape to the Spar to protect from bucking bar, AND to prevent dropping it into the nose rib area via the lightening holes.    Worked well...no scratches now (you can see minor scratches in opposite side at channel inside radius.   Plus less tension about having to retrieve the bucking bar if I let go at wrong time.

Prior side worked w/o tape led to some minor scratches into the Alclad layer.

Empennage

Horiz Stab (2.0 hrs)

Sect 8-11, Step 4:
Riveted rib and spar assembly into skins - starting with Nose Ribs to Front Spar.  Used LP4-3 blind rivets.  Added extensions to blind rivet tool:  simply pulled off the grey handle grips and slid on ~14" tubes made from old aluminum broom handle.  Added some duct tape (of course !) to "soften" the ends.   So much easier.   From barely able to squeeze handles inside skins to super easy access and leverage. Only wish I'd done this for first 3 rivets...9 others were quick and easy.   When done really simple to put grips back on, too.

3 blind rivets per Nose Ribs...difficult to get hands around grips to sufficiently squeeze...until extensions added.

Next Sect 8-12, installing flush rivets.   4 different lengths--- so must follow guide on page 8-13.   Began along front spar from center working outward.  Kinda challenging to hold bucking bar inside skins -- but getting them done one by one.  This will take awhile.

Self portrait in skins. Note flush rivets horizontally along spar.  It's a start!