Reflection on the Empennage

Well. I have been giving the empennage some real thought. Very much a learning experience so far. I am pondering ordering a second vertical and horizontal stabilizer and having another go. The goal is to achieve perfection. I want this to be a very clean and well built plane. Not a show plane....but one that is well done. I think it would be wise to take what I have learned and have another go. This time incorporating all the lessons learned so far. Definitely simplify the priming process to maximize on weight (I know now that I am going to have issues with the 2-part epoxy that I have used)

Pricing out some of the parts....it is just better economy to order a second kit and re-build the pieces I want to perfect. Knowing what I know now...It will take no time to rebuild much of the pieces I want to do again.

Finishing up the last few rivets on the elevators and rudder, And installing rod bearings - 4 hours

I had ordered a bunch of MK-319-BS rivets from vans to finish off the really difficult rivets nearest the trailing edges of the rudder and elevators. I had called vans previously to see if I could use a MK-319-BS rivet instead of a CS4-4 rivet by that really tricky spot beside the rudder control horn. Van's support said that it shouldn't be a problem as the MK-319-BS is a more structural rivet than the CS4-4.

I then installed the rod end bearings in the rudder and elevator. I used a small amount of Boelube as suggested on Van's Airforce to help. Some of the rod bearings do take a bit of work to get in there. I really took my time to set the rod bearings to the proper dimensions. I had used my handy rod bearing tool that I made a number of days ago. Worked like a charm.

Finishing up the last few rivets on the HS - 2 hours

Well. I've spent a decent amount of time practicing setting AD5 rivets with a double offset rivet set, and I have managed to dial in the proper rivet gun settings and the secret to setting the AD5 rivet so that it doesn't fold over...Practice, practice, practice.

I managed to complete all rivets for the HS-0005/0006 to the forward spar.

A little bit of work on everything - 2 hours

Spending a bunch of time on just messing around with the empennage. With the oversight of the neighborhood kids, I set the MK-319-BS rivets on the  left elevator.

I then spent time inspecting the trailing edge on my rudder. I have a bit of gap in the trailing edge. I think this is due to a combination of the 3M tape and my countersinks may have been a touch shallow. I have been pondering this a while and I have half a mind to fill the very slight gap with 3M 2216 epoxy adhesive. I will send an email to vans support to double check if that will be acceptable.

I then set out to set the outstanding rivets on the HS-0005/00006 to the forward HS spar. I managed to set 3 of the 4 large rivets, but I had quite the trouble with the last one. Folded it over, tried again. Folded it over. Now the hole was loose enough that I have to go up a size to a AN470AD5 rivet. My edge distance clearance is really good here (0.502") so It's minor. 

Enough for today!