Section: 8
Hours: 8

Today I clecoed the horizontal stab skins to the forward spar / rib assembly and began riveting them together. Initially you have to pull some rivets deep inside the structure to attach the nose ribs to the forward spar. I had a hard time getting a grip on the rivet puller so I added some handle extensions made out of pvc pipe.

Next I riveted the skins to the forward spar.

Section: 8

Hours: 8

I attached the inboard hinge bracket assembly to the rear spar using the AN3-5A bolt washer and nuts called out in the plans. I torqued the nuts to 28in/pounds and marked the nuts with torque shellac.

Then I inserted the nose ribs and riveted them to the skins. I finished up the day inserting the forward spar and rib assembly. I added enough clecos to bring the structure into alignment in the cradles. It's beginning to look like an airplane part!

Section: 8
Hours: 8

Another GREAT day- more riveting. Today I completed riveting together the spar and ribs for the horizontal stabilizer. The center of the spar has some flush rivets that I set using the mushroom set in the rivet gun. I clamped the spar to the work table so it wouldn't move while setting the rivets.

 Next I assembled the center webbing and ribs to the sub spars. I used the squeezer and the rivet gun. Not all the rivets were reachable with the squeezer.

The spar is slightly bowed at this point due to dimpling the flanges. When the spar is attached to the skins, the bow is pulled out.

 By the end of the day I was able to set up the cradle and mount the skins. Tomorrow I'll rivet the ribs and spar to the skins.

Section: 8
Hours: 8

I enjoy riveting much more than priming so today was a GREAT day!  I used the pneumatic squeezer to rivet the horizontal stab spar cap doublers and center doubler. Once you set up the squeezer it is relatively easy to get a repeatable rivet set on a whole row of rivets.

Section: 8
Hours: 9

I got started early today so I could complete all the cleaning, etching and priming of the horizontal stab components. I began by washing all the parts with the industrial detergent and a scotch bright backed sponge. Woody closely supervised the process and managed quality control.

I spray down the large parts multiple times with the hose and soak the smaller parts in clean water to rinse off the detergent. Next I spray the parts with the acid etch and scrub with scotch bright maroon pads and rinse thoroughly with water and air dry.

I built a paint booth with a couple of fans which has worked very well so far. The majority of the overspray is caught in the furnace filters upstream of the fans and the chicken wire support makes it easy to lay out parts and spray on the primer.

I wear a Tyvak paint suit and respirator for painting.

Here's some shots of the primed parts.

Section: 8
Hours: 8

Today I pushed to get all the horizontal stab parts ready for priming. I finished counter sinking the spar components and polished and deburred all the large holes and edges of the spars. I used files, Dremel tool, edge deburring tool and 3M Scotch bright with mucho elbow grease.

Here are all the horizontal stab parts ready for priming.