Left elevator

The left elevator construction is virtually identical to the right elevator, with the exception of the trim tab.  While this seems like a small difference, I found that it took quite a bit more time than the right side, although I was very pleased with the results.  I started by deburring all of the skeleton parts and the skin, and removing the vinyl from the rivet lines on the skin.  There is a reinforcement plate that fits where the trim tab servo mounts that requires platenuts, to which the trim tab cover will attach.

Many people rebuild the trim tab several times, so I took that as a sign that practice was in order.  Bending the tabs on the inboard and outboard ends of the trim tab, as well as those on the trim tab opening of the elevator, are some of the more challenging tasks of the empennage construction.  I traced the trim tabs onto some scrap aluminum, cut them out, and clamped them to the wood blocks I fabricated for this task.  I learned how the aluminum responds to various bending techniques, including a low pressure rivet gun, and what I would need to do on the real tabs to make them turn out well.  My practice pieces got progressively better, and after the third one I made the bends on the real parts.  I think it turned out very well.

 

Deburring left elevator parts

Removed vinyl from left elevator skin

Ready for initial assembly

Skeleton coming together

Fitting trim access reinforcement plate

Platenuts installed on reinforcement plate

Skin match drilled to skeleton

Stiffeners match drilled to skin

Riveting skeleton together

Stiffeners riveted to skin