Tail!

This is a long post because it took several months, some head-scratching, re-doing, three replacement skins and a LOT of putting together, taking apart (the plans actually called for that!) before we had some tail!  The tail section is mostly done and the focus now is on the wiring for the tail section.  It actually looks like a plane now.  We haven't taken a picture of the complete tail cone but will post that soon.  Next up:  wings.

AST and Stabilator

AST = anti-servo tabs
Stabilator = stabilizer and elevators in single piece
So here is the next section of tail completed.  So Greg is doing the same techniques on these pieces as well:  drilling, deburring, assembling, cleeko-ing, riveting.  And the assembly part is done over and over and over again!  He now has over 92 hours into the project.  Estimated time left to complete the plane:  718 hours!  Whew!

These next few pictures are of the AST.  These are later attached onto the stabilator.

Hand riveting - much harder than using the hydraulic rivetor.

Yep, I got to rivet!  I did one half of the AST.  Not too bad!

Assembly line of parts.

Ribs of the stabilator

This is a neat picture of how he puts the skin on the ribs of the stabilator. 

Now we get why we were sold 12,500 pop rivets.....I think there must be a couple of hundred just in this side alone!

Stabilator:  one side riveted

Putting on the aft stabilator skin.

Final pieces - there is a long bar that has counter weights for controlling this part of the plane.

 

The finished stabilator!  It sits on two pillows to keep the pieces that hang through the middle from being damaged.  On to the tail cone section.  Won't be long until we are ordering the wing kit!

Rudder...check

 The vertical part of this tail project is completed.  So here are the last "few" steps of the rudder:

 The rudder spar in process

 Cutting something on the rudder (it's okay, it's supposed to be cut!!!)

 Riveting the spar

 Completed spar; these are pretty cool to see as once the skin is on, they are no longer visible.  Which in this case is a good thing.

 Putting on anti-corrosion paint.  It's very toxic and flammable.  We were grateful for a nice day to work outside on this part.

 Riveting the skin onto the spar.  And yes, I did rivet for the first time.  I did an entire row and none of the rivets had to be drilled out.  Not to say that won't ever happen, but I was pretty pleased with my first rivets!  They passed the inspection by Greg.

 Rudder....it really is big.

 Rudder and vertical stabilizer....not yet together but they "dri-fit" just fine.

Just a peek at the plans.  These are the directions for the just putting on the skin.  It took 4.3 hours to do these 3 steps.  So far we are at 46.5 hours and counting!  So stabilizer...check     Rudder....check   Next step.....horizontal part of the tail.

Rudder, well kinda sorta...........

 So now it's on to the rudder.  Greg' technical advisor, Ernie, has inspected the vertical stabilizer and told Greg he has done a great job and now he doesn't need to have Ernie back until the entire tail section is done.  Hopefully, it will only be a few months before we see Ernie back here!

 More parts.

 Same story, different pieces...drilling

 Cleeko-ing and more drilling.....

Sanding and smoothing......next phots will the completed rudder!