March 25, 2017: Storing Empennage parts

Moved all the empennage parts to storage after wrapping (removed vinyl first).

March 21 2017 Update: Prepping empennage parts for storage.

Using tyvek to wrap parts for storage.  Removing vinyl wrap before applying the Tyvek.

March 11-18 Update: Empennage Fairings and Wrapping up the Empennage

March 11:

Primed gap fairings and metal adjacent on rudder.  Torqued rudder rod ends.  Applied epoxy coat to VS fairing and sanded after it cured (used fast cure epoxy).

March 12:

Primed metal adjacent to VS fairing.   Sanded right Elevator fairing and primed metal adjacent to fairing.  Began filling / sanding the left elevator gap at fairing.

March 18:

Completed filling and sanding left elevator fairing and both HS fairings.  Removed HS from empennage.  Primed bare metal where I sanded on the right elevator and both HS fairings.   SECTION 12 COMPLETE

March 9-10: Empennage fairings and fitting rudder offset tabs.

March 9:

Finished sanding R Elevator cap, primed this and fitted to elevator.  Riveted in place.  

March 10:

Primed empennage gap fairings.  Fabricated rudder stop offset tabs, primed these, match drilled them to rudder horn, and riveted in place.  Filled gaps on top surface of right HS and elevator tips, sanded.  

March 4-5: Empennage fairings

March 4:

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Sanded and primed the VS fairing.  Final installed this on the VS and then filled in the gap where the fairing attached to VS as well as rivets that attach VS fairing.   Filled the caps of both HS fairings with epoxy (fast curing) and sanded this, then applied a thin slurry of micro.   Filled gap on rudder top fairing with filler as well as rivets - sanded this including wet sanding 400 grit.

March 5:

Replaced VS, Rudder, and Elevators on empennage to test fit parts.  Right HS fairing needed some adjustment - sanded to a good fit and then filled with ultra-white filler, sanded and coated with micro/epoxy mixture.  Test fit rudder - OK except for slightly decreased clearance to left elevator - will add a tab to rudder stop to address this.  Left HS fairing fits perfectly - riveted into place.

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March 2-3: Empennage fairings, empennage gap cover

March 2:

Cut and fittted fairing for left HS.   Cut previously molded end piece for this fairing and taped in place with epoxy thickened with cabosil.  Added flox and strips of cloth (with epoxy) inside right HS fairing.   Sanded VS fairing.   Reinforced VS fairing rivet holes with washers.

March 3: 

Test fitted right HS fairing - it's very close in the center portion so I cut out a central piece and placed another piece of glass behind this to conform shape more to the motion of th elevator.   Added flox/glass strips inside the left HS fairing to reinforce.   Sealed part of the VS fairing that had some small voids with epoxy.   Torqued jam nuts on elevator.   Temporarily attached VS to empennage and deburred, then fitted the empennage gap covers (including match drilling the upper holes through the VS).