Empennage

Elevator ( 2 hrs )

Hooray !  Sect 9-23 Steps 1-10.  Successfully bonded all 8 Foam Ribs into LH and RH Elevators.  Added TE to each, using the double sided tape process.  Just cleco'd for now while "tank sealant" (Pro Seal) cures for couple days.  

Used lots of weight -everything but the kitchen sink on boards to compress top skin onto foam ribs and bottom skin.  Even used my C-Frame, and a few bricks too.

Empennage

Elevator  ( 2 hrs )

Sect 9-22 Steps 2-4 for LH Elevator - Outboard close out done.  Finished remaining Rear Spar rivets w/ RV10 bucking bar (those left open to enable lifting skin for outboard riveting access).  Last time I need this special bucking bar...but sure works great.  

I'm glad I recognized Skins go over Counterbalance Skins. (Van's has bold text statement in later page of the Elevator build...but key was knowing this during original assembly with clecos.  Good to read ahead ! )     Fit is "flush" - better than I'd anticipated with this overlap.

Empennage

Elevator  ( 2 hrs )

Sect 9-22 Steps 6-8:  Rh Elevator Outboard close out done.  Several different lengths of rivets kept me checking instructions frequently.    Two rivets are reached via lifting open the Skin and inserting the bucking bar inside.  

I found easiest to do with Elevator set as shown in picture below... instead of from bottom and top simultaneously.  

Finally got to squeeze in all the rivets along Front Spar on top and bottom.   Tomorrow I'll do the LH Close out.  Soon...bonding in Ribs and TE.

Empennage

Elevator  (3.5 hrs )

Big day today....joined Front Spar with Tips to the Skins, etc. It's been a long journey for the Elevators (seems as long as the Rudder + Vert Stab + Horiz Stab combined...)  

Bottom side LH Elevator...Front Spar installed.  "Stored" while work on RH side...

Sect 9-20, Steps 7-9: Riveted LH and RH Front Spar Assly's into Elevator Skins at Ribs with 18 blind rivets each side.  Very satisfying to have perfect alignment of all holes.

Sect 9-21, Steps 6-8: jumped one set ahead to complete Inboard Close-out of RH Elevator, since already on the table.  Tricky 2 rivets to E 921 Gusset - requires lifting corner of skin to reach shop ends.  My wife's smaller hands were really helpful.  Thanks Nancy !  

RH Inboard Close-out...done

 Steps 1-5:  Back up one set of instructions to do LH Elevator Inboard Close-out.  Again, several challenging rivets requiring lots of patience.   But each time figured out best way to position bucking bar (even one time able to use Main Squeeze to reach inside).  

Started Sect 9-22, Step 1 and Step 5 riveting Shear Clips to LH and RH Outboard Tips.   Tiring work today due to many different set ups and tools, and lots of reading and re-reading to be sure understood instructions and process expected.

Empennage

Elevator  (3 hrs )

Sect 9-19, Step 3:  LH & RH Elevator Skins top and bottom cleco'd together at Ribs...to blind rivet soon.   Sect 9-20, Step 1-4: Get to try out RV10 Special Bucking Bar  (borrowed from Terry Moushon, builder RV10    Thanks Terry !)  After shimming to prevent any deformation of TE skin "reverse bends", used special bucking bar to rivet Rear Spar.

Instructions have you start with LH Elevator, since those are on bottom (any oops will be less visible).   Good idea, but whole procedure was much easier than I'd feared.  Just insured bar was correctly positioned for each rivet.   Both LH and RH Elevators are A-OK.

Step 5-6:  Blind riveted Top and Bottom Ribs to each other, joining Elevator into an assembly for Left, and one for Right.   Sure was important to use extension handles on rivet tool !   I used cardboard under tool also, to prevent any "dings" to skins when each rivet "pops".

Empennage

Elevator ( 3 hrs )

Right Rear Spar riveted to Right Bottom Skin per Step 4 & 5 - with some exceptions.  Then Sect 9-18, Finished Right Bottom Skin via back riveting Ribs.

Sect 9-19, Step 1 Left Bottom Skin - 5 Ribs, since 6th is part of Trim Reinforcement Doubler.   Riveted Trim Access Reinforcement & Doubler Brace while adding final 2 Nutplates.   Note:  I add the machine screw during riveting to insure alignment (these are flush, so no interference, etc).

Step 2 Back Riveted 6 Ribs to Right Top Skin.  Started Step 3 - cleco'd LH Top & Bottom Skins with Ribs and Rear Spar so ready tomorrow to blind rivet top and bottom together.  It's beginning to look like an elevator!

Empennage

Elevator ( 4 hrs )

Sect 9-17, Step 3:  Completed rivets to Ribs & Shear Clips to LH and RH Rear Spars.  

Sect 9-18, Step 1 & 2: Primed all 4 Skins inside surface along rivet lines and similarly scuffed zones (only).    Removed tape from zones for bonding Foam Ribs and TE later (see pic below)

Then riveted Forward Hinge to Rear Spar & Top Left Skin.

Temporarily assembled Trim Tab hinge to confirm smooth operation.   Looks and works great !


















Step 3:  Back Riveted Ribs to LH Top Skin.

















Step 4- 5:  Right Rear Spar riveted to Right Bottom Skin.  Careful to mark locations not to be riveted at this time, too.  Plan to back rivet Ribs to this Skin tomorrow....