Elevators
First thing you will notice is that the elevators are not cut to size nor are they hole punched anywhere.the elevators and rudder are interchangeable between all sonex products ergo they are uncut to size.On another page see how I did it.Biggy here?Don't cut the wrong way.It might look confusing at first but study the hidden lines(dashed)lay the actual elevator on the drawing and it will become clear where to draw your cut line.Measure twice or five times and cut once.
Elevators and rudder
The elevators and rudder cut to size drilled for the ribs and clecoed together.I measured carefully for all the holes as per the drawings.As I marked one elevator I immediately transfered it to the other elevator using an adjustable square which saves a lot of time.Don't drill any holes where the hinges go yet.You will use the hinge itself as a template for these holes.The center rib holes should be drilled as close as is possible in a straight line as you will be sliding the rib in and finding the line you drew on the edge of the rib through these holes .once you can see your line through all the holes in the line you can start to drill through the rib ,cleco it and continue.I drilled and clecoed the wide end first to reference the rib against that side and then worked my way back to the trailing edge.
I can't rivet my rudder or elevator closed yet as I am registering it in the amateur category and it must be inspected before it is closed up permanently .
This is fussy work,I made sure I thought ahead before I committed to drilling or cutting anything.
I have never done anything like this before but so far nothing has caught me by surprise . I try to think ahead with each part I deal with and see how it will interact in the whole by going to the page in the plans that shows it in its place.
I can't rivet my rudder or elevator closed yet as I am registering it in the amateur category and it must be inspected before it is closed up permanently .
This is fussy work,I made sure I thought ahead before I committed to drilling or cutting anything.
I have never done anything like this before but so far nothing has caught me by surprise . I try to think ahead with each part I deal with and see how it will interact in the whole by going to the page in the plans that shows it in its place.
Rudder
Rudder horn clecoed in place
Elevator horn problem
Notice that I wound up putting 2 rivets in from the back side.After trying the eaa wedge method and failing twice I checked with another builder and this was his solution because he coulden't make it work either.See the next photo
The problem
Even after removing material from my riveter I still cold not put this rivet in perpendicular to the surface.Check the EAA videos for the wedge method they suggest but I could not get it to work.If anyone has a better solution let me know.
EAA saves the day.Since trying the wedge method and failing miserably I went back to the EAA video hints and found this gem that just might be the ticket
http://bcove.me/fv0l3le0 I will give it a whirl today and see if it works.
EAA saves the day.Since trying the wedge method and failing miserably I went back to the EAA video hints and found this gem that just might be the ticket
http://bcove.me/fv0l3le0 I will give it a whirl today and see if it works.
Problem solved
As can be seen I ground the tip as per the video link above
Easier to grind the tip in the hand riveter then.......
Taking it one step further ,I put the ground tip into my pneumatic riveter
The result
The replaced rivet ,far left is now squarely placed in the hole .Notice the rivet immediately right of it and you can see a space under one side.I then drilled this one out also and used the adapted tip to fix it also.This is a much superior method to the wedge idea.
Rudder steps
Drilled for the hinge today.The plans call for the hinge to be set back from the edge .057 thousandths from the edge .I had 2 automotive shims that equaled .055 so close enough.
I will contact RAA to see if I can rivet everything except the 2 end ribs so that it can be looked at for inspection that way?Till then moving on to the elevators after I build a longer table.
Answer was yes I can rivet the center rib and the hinge in place but have to leave the rudder horn and other end rib un-riveted.
Answer was yes I can rivet the center rib and the hinge in place but have to leave the rudder horn and other end rib un-riveted.