November 30, 2016: rolled & riveted right elevator leading edge

 Rolled the leading edges of the right elevator and riveted.  Looks very good. I have "perfected" the technique of using a "half" u-bolt and vice grips to fully roll the edge without bending at the spar flange.  

November 29, 2016: aft fuselage parts prep, riveting right elevator & trailing edge

Began parts prep for Aft Fuselage.  Found some damage to one of the fuselage skins that I missed during the inventory/inspection.  Email to Van's about this - pending a response.   Completed riveting all skins on right elevator, and riveted the right elevator trailing edge.  Looks very good and straight.   I continue to get better at this technique - just in time to be done of course.

November 28, 2016: left elevator trim motor completed, elevator counterweights

Installed and tested trim motor assembly in left elevator.  I had to "flip" the trim pushrod - drawings are confusing.  Not a big deal.  Connected the wiring harness before install - used a 9v battery to test.  After this I used the battery to align the trim tab with elevator trailing edge.   I completed riveting the rolled leading edge of the elevator.  Also begain working on the counterweights for both elevators.  Made a mistake in trimming two of these - ordered new ones. I struggled to trim excess material from the counterweights (required for one on each elevator).  Finally "discovered" a technique using putty knife.   I put a post on Van's Air Force about this:  http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=144412

November 27, 2016: right elevator riveting, left elevator trim motor

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Received 3-3 rivets for skin riveting and more MK-319-BS.  Completed most riveting of right elevator, installed foam ribs and trailing edge using proseal, clecoed trailing edge, and placed with weighted board for a few days for proseal to cure.   Completed additional work on left elevator including connecting molex connector on the trim motor and rolling leading edge - clecos placed.  Applied silicone sealant to connections and some shrink wrap to the wires from the trim motor.

November 20, 2016: right elevator parts prep, priming, complete riveting left elevator

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Completed prep and primed all parts for right elevator.   Completed riveting of left elevator including trailing edge and close out tab.   Completed sections 9-14, -15, -16 for right elevator.  Using MK-319-BS rivets for attaching skins to rear spar, much easier and less bending of skins than using the special bucking bar.  Ordered more to have adequate quantity.  Also ordered more 3-3 rivets for skin to ribs (not enough to completed bottom and top skin back-riveting.

November 19, 2016: right elevator parts prep

Extensive prep of right elevator parts.  Completed up to section 9-15 for right elevator.   Beginning to prep all parts for priming.

November 18, 2016: trim tab completed

Completed Trim Tab - riveted trailing edge using "safety pin" tool and riveted close-out tabs..  Installed foam ribs in left elevator and clecoed trailing edge, using "pro-seal" for both. Clecoed and placed on flat bench with weighted board while sealant cures.

November 17, 2016: left elevator assembly

Completed Section 9-20, 9-21, 9-22 for left elevator.  

November 16, 2016: left elevator assembly, trailing edge clecoed

Completed Section 9-18, 9-19 for left elevator.  Completed assembly of trim tab up to point of clecoing trailing edge.  (Section 9-14).

Tuesday November 15: Elevator parts prep

Extensive parts prep.  Primed skins for trim tabs and left elevator.  Completed section 9-14 up to the point of adhesion of ribs.  Awaiting shipment of sealant from Van's.  Ordered 1 week ago.   Completed section 9-16 for left elevator only.  Completed 9-17 for left elevator.  Completed Section 9-18 up to step 5.

Monday November 14th: elevator and trim tab parts prep

Continued work preparing left elevator and trim tab parts.  

November 13, 2016: continuing work on left elevator

Completed Section 9-9 (left elevator) - including countersinking of left elevator trailing edge using special countersink from Cleaveland Tools .  Extensive prep (deburring, scuffing, dimpling, priming) of all parts of the left elevator except skins).  Completed (left elevator only where appropriate) sections 9-11 and 9-12, and 9-13 up to step 5.

November 12, 2016 update: Elevator parts prep and partial assembly, drilling error

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Long day of work.

Completed Section 9-2.  Final drilled elevator tip assemblies.  Completed Section 9-4.  Bent close-out tabs on skins and drilled the pilot holes in trim tab hinges.  Completed Section 9-5 - for left elevator only.  Error at this point - I drilled 5/8 hole in wrong place on one elevator spar.  So I'm moving on with left elevator and will complete the right elevator when I get the replacement part. Completed 9-6 for left elevator (Skeleton assembly, drilling etc).  Completed Section 9-7.  Completed Section 9-8 for left elevator only.   Completed Section 9-9 up to step 3 for left elevator only.   Completed section 9-10 (left elevator)

November 7 2016: Elevator parts prep

Prepping parts on pages 9-2 and 9-3.   Parts cut, trimmed, deburred, ribs clecoed together.

November 16, 2016 update: Horizontal stabilizer completed

Horizontal Stablizer is completed as of today.  

Yesterday:  

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Substantially completed Section 8-12.  Riveted ribs to rear spar (with universal head rivets and blind rivets) and skin to rear spar.  Max B here helping me.  One rivet (rear spar to inspar rib) had to be drilled out.  Hole was sl oversized so I used a CherryMax rivet (drilled to #27 by design) to replace it.  Turned out very nice.  Also replaced the two rivets on VS drilled out with Vic Syracuse's help with same size CherryMax rivets.  These are a good solution where a 1/8" hole is sl oversized. Today:  Max helped me do the last 10 rivets (front spar to inspar nose ribs).  Section 8 is complete!