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Riblet is the way
I just got a couple of extra elevator ribs, cut off the forward portion, cut off the flanges of the trim tab, and constructed the tab similarly to the rest of the elevator. No hitches, and it looks like the rest of the elevator.
Just my choice, never attempted the bending routine. |
When I finished my tab (for the second time) the EAA tech counselor said it was fine -- and I know it's airworthy, but not perfect. I figure I can build another one later if I don't feel it's up to snuff AFTER building the rest of the plane. Trim tabs are cheap.
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Trim tab follies
I built two trim tabs. The first, I used blind rivets where I could. Then, after I pro-sealed the ribs in and squeezed them into place using the clamping fixture, I noticed an imperfection. If I angled the finished tab just right, I could see two slight indentations in the skin where the ribs are prosealed. I was apoplectic. I lost sleep. I had trim tab nightmares. I decided I would do another.
So I did. I built another trim tab but this time I used solid rivets and I clamped the ribs more loosely to avoid these unsightly indentations. When I was done, I noticed, INDENTATIONS!! Now I have two perfectly good trim tabs for my RV-9 and worked another 4-9 hours on a trim tab I will probably never need I somehow damage the first. |
Keep building trim tabs until you're happy with one. Don't pass on the chance to have spare scrap material. Here's what one of my early trim tabs became. The plenum for Redneck Airconditioning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pD0J...layer_embedded |
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