October 17, 2001
Today I took it fairly "easy". I worked on completing the left elevator. This involved curling up the skin to form the leading edge. This is done with a broom handle duct taped to the skin. You tape it on one side at a time. Just snag the handle with vise grips and then wang on it until you get some curvature. I'm no expert at this, since my leading edges aren't coming out as flush and tightly together as they should be, so don't take my word for this technique...it's just how I've seen everybody else doing it. Anyway, here's a picture of the left elevator with the leading edge curled and closed, ready for riveting.
After riveting the leading edge (with pop rivets...you can't buck or squeeze these suckers), I installed the counterbalance weights. Man, I can't believe you have to add so much lead to these things. It's really heavy now! Adding lead...weird. But you have to do it in order to "balance" the controls. That way you give the control surfaces more balanced mass, which translates into less (or no) flutter. Hey, as long as that works, I guess I don't mind adding weight, but it's so strange...this sucker would be so light without the lead!
The left elevator is done!
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Dan Checkoway ()