Empennage - Rudder assembly

The following images show the clecoed assembly of the entire rudder, obviously prior to rolling the leading edge.

Top of the trailing edge...

Empennage - Rudder (continued)

Continued with the rudder today attaching the Rudder Horn assembly to the Main Spar...

The hole left unriveted is for the HW-00004 plastic bracket as shown below...

Here are all the rudder skin stiffeners laid out in their relative positions prior to separation...

That's all for today. More cutting, deburring & priming tomorrow.

Empennage - Rudder

Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the initial preparation of the Rudder Main Spar and associated reinforcement plates. Here are some shots after priming and riveting these parts.

R-912 riveted to R-902-1 Rudder Main Spar:

While riveting R-608PP reinforcement plate into the main spar, I got a little over-excited with the rivets and installed one where I needed to install a K1000-6 nut plate and of course, a larger rivet to accommodate it...

It came out again with no damage. Maybe I'm getting too much practice??

R-607PP riveted to the rudder main spar:

Empennage - Vertical Stabilizer Riveting

Today was the first time I get to rivet an external skin.

Although he looks a little crazy sometimes (even more so with a rivet gun in his mitts), I'm lucky enough to have a mate who loves working with tools and is most enthusiastic to give me a hand. Meet Rocket...

I didn't take a photo of the completed left side of the Vert Stab, but at this stage, this is as far as I can go as it now needs an inspection prior to closing up.

On to the Rudder!!

Empennage - Vertical Stabilizer Assembly

Finally getting to a position where the Vert Stab is coming together.

The second Main Spar and Doubler were prepared again and primed. This time, all the rivets were installed on the correct side...

While squeezing the AN426AD4 rivets where the VS-702 Front Spar joins VS-704 & VS-705 ribs, the squeezer scratched the front spar. This was partly due to the <90 degree angle between VS-704 and the rib 

These scratches will need to be sanded smooth and re-primed. Awkward spot.

When riveting the VS-705 rib to the front spar with AD4 rivets, the flange bent away slightly. It's not much but I'll make sure this is inspected prior to assembly.

The Vertical Stabilizer skeleton partly riveted, partly clecoed...

Vertical Stabilizer - Main Spar (take 2)

Try again shall we?

Since screwing the construction of the first Vert Stab main spar, I've added the following to the tool collection. I highly recommend doing the same.
1) adjustable set holder for the Pneumatic Dimpler/Squeezer
2) 3" Longeron Yolk for the Pneumatic Dimpler/Squeezer

As part of the match drilling process, the Vert Stab has to be clecoed together again with the new parts. I love it when it looks like part of a plane is coming together...

And these are the new parts prepped for priming:

VS-803PP Main Spar etched and dimpled

VS-808PP Main Spar Doubler etched and dimpled

Vert Stab Main Spar & Doubler ready for priming