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01-10-2016, 04:35 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sale, VIC (Australia)
Posts: 22
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Bend ears or riblets?
Hey guys,
I'm about to finish off the left elevator and trim tab. I've heard 'horror' stories with this not going right when bending the ear. Is it that bad and should I make riblets instead... or should I just bend away?
Dan
__________________
Dan
RV-7A
Empennage and Wings complete....
Fuselage - Building canopy and avionics in progress
Sale, VIC
Australia
0404 869 261
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01-10-2016, 06:26 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Clarkston, MI
Posts: 660
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Definitely strong opinions on both sides. I decided to try bending the tabs. Took my time; built forming blocks; worked on practice pieces... but I'm proud to be a member of the "One Tab Club". See my thread on the subject; search the forums for One Tab Club and you'll probably find it.
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01-10-2016, 08:52 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
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I bent the tabs (which of course I built several times) and some months later I looked at it and didn't like the look of it and didn't like how close the pop rivet was to the elevator so I pulled it off, cut it all off and made riblets.
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01-10-2016, 09:15 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 3,947
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Club
Quote:
Originally Posted by goatflieg
Definitely strong opinions on both sides. I decided to try bending the tabs. Took my time; built forming blocks; worked on practice pieces... but I'm proud to be a member of the "One Tab Club". See my thread on the subject; search the forums for One Tab Club and you'll probably find it.
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I did the same. Documented in my blog.
__________________
Larry Larson
Estes Park, CO
http://wirejockrv7a.blogspot.com
wirejock at yahoo dot com
Donated 12/03/2019, plus a little extra.
RV-7A #73391, N511RV reserved (2,000+ hours)
HS SB, empennage, tanks, wings, fuse, working finishing kit
Disclaimer
I cannot be, nor will I be, held responsible if you try to do the same things I do and it does not work and/or causes you loss, injury, or even death in the process.
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01-10-2016, 10:24 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 1,035
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I heard the horror stories, too, and took the riblet route:
Pretty aren't they?
However, now that I have built quite a bit more of the plane, I'd have no issue doing the bend now. Get some scrap and practice a bit prior .. prototype how you want to hold the part and make the bend.
Just remember the Seven Ps : "Proper Prior Planning Prevents **** Poor Performance" (with compliments to the USMC) (**** rhymes with hiss)
__________________
Bill Bencze
N430WB RV-7 #74152 @ KHAF, tip-up; IO-360-M1B; Hartzell CS. !! Phase 1 !!
2357 hrs over 8.5 years to get to flying. Log at: http://rv7.wbencze.com
VAF 2020 donation happily made
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01-10-2016, 10:40 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Locust, NC
Posts: 440
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Followed Van's instructions with a couple short cuts an bent a pretty good but not perfect tab. Been flying that way, it works like it should.
Last year built a tab for a 9 following Van's instructions to the letter. It turned out almost perfect. Make the wood forms, use the double-sided tape and you won't be dissappointed.
__________________
Dave
M20C
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01-10-2016, 11:12 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Garden City Texas
Posts: 878
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I didn't even try the bending. I went straight to the riblet and it was quick and easy. It gave me confidence in fabricating custom parts also.

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01-11-2016, 03:49 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sale, VIC (Australia)
Posts: 22
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Thanks for all the responses.. I think I might give the riblets a go just to prove to myself that I can fabricate small parts (little wins matter).
But just to be sure I'll make the riblets prior to cutting the 'ears' off.
Cheers,
__________________
Dan
RV-7A
Empennage and Wings complete....
Fuselage - Building canopy and avionics in progress
Sale, VIC
Australia
0404 869 261
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01-11-2016, 09:45 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Fayetteville nc
Posts: 23
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Ive done both. Personally I think the Riblets look better compared to a good tab bend. At some point in the project, you will likely relax around some of the things that others seem to make folks feel inferior to do (like using a pulled rivet). i've seen some mangled trim tabs that appear to have been made with a 2lb ball peen hammer. Whatever you do, just be reasonably neat and you'll be fine.
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01-11-2016, 10:14 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stilwell, KS
Posts: 1,096
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+1 for One Tab Club!
I did my tab the way Van's said to do it and was happy with how it turned out the first try. I held the parts in place with form blocks squeezed to the bench with vise-grip welding clamps, and did some light tapping with a hammer and a small bucking bar followed by a smooth punch to get the creases sharp.
I will admit I didn't expect the first one to turn out at all, so I just played around with it, and it happened to work out. If I damaged the elevator at all, Plan B was to cut it and make a riblet.

__________________
Katie Bosman
RV-3B sold, but flying!
Next project: ???
Builders gonna build...
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