Attaching the Horizontal Stabiliser (2h)

Here’s one of those thirty minute jobs that took two hours.

The stabiliser was already clamped in place for drilling but I realised I wouldn’t be able to do anything while the attach brackets were clecoed on the top skin. The book says to leave off riveting them until the fins are on but a quick look suggested that only the front most rivet holes should be left undone so I went ahead and riveted the brackets on to the roof.

With that done I put the stabiliser back on and went through making sure it was level and centered. In order to help get the bolt hole just right I drew a centre line on each of the gussets which I figured would help make the hole centred (I almost seem like I know what I am doing!!).

No excuses left I took out the #40 drill bit and made my first holes.

40 to 20 to 3/16, the final size.

Looking at that I don’t know why I trimmed the outer attachment bracket – I wonder if I made notes to explain it? I’m not riveting them until final assembly.

A quick check after and still only 0.1 degree off level – yay.

I got hold of the elevator and almost took out a wing, a bench and my hand trying to get it in place so I put it down. This is definitely a two (or three!) person job to get lined up with the attachment hole on the stabiliser. Lot of work to do there, too.

Also over the weekend I did some more scratching of the wing. I’ve now finished the first one to my initial satisfaction

With Teri’s help I turned the wing stand around so that the other wing is now available for treatment.