Today I drilled the #10 holes through the rudder end blocks and clamped the system into the plane. I decided on holes drilled at distances used by other builders via Dan checkoway with a slight difference at the furthest location. I decided to drill the first hole at 3 3/16th” and then 1 1/16” at each position. Turned out great we will see how it feels way down the road. I'm hopeful it's great!
To do this I marked and clamped the blocks to the longeron then removed the longeron/block clamp up from the plane and drilled it while clamped to my bench. Move the block 1 1/16” and drilled another set of holes. This went smooth without issues.
Once this was completed and the rudder system was clamped back into the fuselage I began working on the ruder bar brace and the center block. I followed the plans here, drilled the holes through the block at the dimensions listed and trimmed the brace at the dimensions listed.
I drilled holes in the brace first that attach it to the firewall angle making sure I kept the holes offset from the holes that attach the firewall and angle together so not to have interference. An extra hole was drilled through by accident but I will leave it open and it shouldn't cause any issues.
Once it was clecoed in place I clamped the center block to the brace which I drew a line down the flange at the distance shown in the plans. I centered the line in the rudder block holes and drilled. I did the for each of the 3 locations from earlier. Don't forget to put a 960-10 washer between the cut center block for spacing.
With all the positions drilled in all the blocks/longerons/brace and everything moving freely, I removed the rudder pedal system and set it in a safe place until later. I will trim the brace later to make it a bit more pretty and to save a pinch of weight.
That's it for today, off to work for another 48. Gotta pay for this fun stuff somehow.