Sep 06, 2021     Waiting on wings! Category: Empennage

Now waiting on the wings. Order was placed in April at Sun-N-Fun. Expected the wings in April. Was informed it wouldn't be until December! well, maybe my 3 yr goal will have to be extended. No rush, just excited to fly my own plane.

  Sep 06, 2021     Left Elevator Done - (20 hours) Category: Empennage

After learning of the long lead time on my wing kit, I wasn't in too much of a hurry to complete the left elevator and the trim tab. It wasn't difficult, but I did have to torque the control horn as I riveted the skin to the trim tab spar. I have a little bit of flex in the skin of the elevator. Our local EAA build advisor said it was fine and that he hard a little of that on his RV-6. Not sure where some of the tolerances built up.

  Jun 15, 2021     Right Elevator Done - (1.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Completed the riveting on the training edge and bolting in the hinges.

  Jun 10, 2021     Right Elevator TE - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Decided to tackle the trailing edge on the elevator. Used the same process as the rudder.

  May 28, 2021     Right Elevator assembly - (16 hours)       Category: Empennage

After taking time off to go to Fun-N-Sun, Don came over to help work the elevator stiffeners. I did all the fitting and part cleaning and primed the elevator parts. Assembly went smooth up to the working the trailing edge.

  May 09, 2021     Rudder Completed - (4 hours) Category: Empennage

Had to remember the whole double-flush rivet process and worked to keep the rudder straight.

  Apr 28, 2021     Rudder Trailing Edge - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

After reading about getting the trailing edge straight being a tough part of the kit, I stressed on it a while. I followed the instructions and got an extra aluminum right-angle and used the pro-seal as glue. It can out as straight as I hoped it would. I saw a lot more non-straight rudders at Oshkosh, so I think I did it correctly.

  Apr 18, 2021     Rudder structure - (5 hours) Category: Empennage

Began final assembly of the rudder structure.

  Mar 28, 2021     H Stab Completed - (9 hours)       Category: Empennage

Completed assembly of the horizontal stab. I had to clean up a couple rivets that weren't quite right and properly torque the mounting bolts.

  Mar 22, 2021     Started the assembly of the H Stab - (10 hours)       Category: Empennage

Started on the horizontal stab to get rid of all the spare parts lying around.

  Mar 14, 2021     Stab Finished - (4 hours) Category: Empennage

Finished up the vertical stab.

  Mar 13, 2021     Riveting the V Stab - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

First time stressing over bucking the rivets on the vertical stab. It is great Chris is helping to finish up the stab. Sig, my father-in-law helped with the small rivets.

  Mar 08, 2021     Rudder Stiffner assembly - (3 hours)       Category: Empennage

Finally, have parts ready to assemble. Starting the back riveting on the rudder stiffeners - hard to mess that up!

  Mar 06, 2021     Priming the H Stab and rudder components - (8 hours)       Category: Empennage

With so many pieces to prep, the total time is a little higher and is more than just the paint time. Cleaning and etching is a bit of a pain. Did this the same day in one big paint effort as the vert stab and rudder skins.

  Mar 06, 2021     Priming the Vert Stab - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

Hours include researching the primer and figuring out how to set up in the garage. I bought a heater for the garage so I could finally start priming my parts and actually put something together. I hung a bunch of tarps to not make so much of a mess. Fun learning to spray paint for the first time! I am using Stewart Systems Smoke Grey primer. I lie the water-based product.

  Jan 09, 2021     V Stab Fitting - (5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Since it is really cold and I can't prime, started the build up of the vertical stab.

  Jan 06, 2021     Rudder skin and stiffner prep - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

This is is at least half the purpose of this project - to work it with Chris and have memories. We cut and prepped the rudder stiffeners and skins.

  Dec 31, 2020     H Stab Buildup - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

Adding skins after building the fixture.

  Dec 30, 2020     Horz Stab Fitting - (10 hours)       Category: Empennage

Getting started on the horizontal stab. Fitting and re-sizing

  Dec 12, 2020     Road Trip to Pick Up Kit       Category: Empennage

Chris and I began our journey to Cottonwood Falls, KS to pick up a kit that was never started. Let the journey begin!