Rudder Time!

Things are progressing nicely now.  I started cutting and deburring all of the stiffeners for the left and right rudder skins, and then removed the vinyl from the rivet locations.  After that was finished, I started working on the skeleton.  A few pieces of aluminum need to be cut from scrap to be used as shims, but this is a straightforward process.  The counterbalance skin is then clecoed to the top ribs and everything is match drilled together.  It looks like the biggest challenge on the rudder will be riveting the trailing edge.

Stiffeners cut and deburred on right side skin

Removing the blue stuff

Both skins match drilled and ready to go

Drilling R-918 bottom attach strips to R-904 rib

Skeleton ready for disassembly, dimpling and priming

Vertical Stabilizer work

Compared to the horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer seems to come together very quickly.  It's probably a combination of getting used to working with aluminum and understanding the plans better - it's nice to see things take shape more rapidly. 

Match drilled skin to skeleton

Priming internal components

Skeleton primed and ready for riveting

Riveting spar doubler and hinge brackets to rear spar

Riveting skeleton together

Final assembly