[Torch76]

I started my -8 and worked for about 1 month before having to the country for 4 months for work. While away from the kit, I stayed active on VAF and read all those empennage horror stories. This got me to evaluate my work now that I'm back to building. I don't like some of what I saw, and want to fix it.

1.) I previously built the hinge bracket assembly (HS-411) without good attention to detail, so now I am rebuilding it. The holes that attach it to the rear spar reinforcement (HS-609PP) and rear spar (HS-603PP) are #12. How do I best line up the well underdrilled holes on the new hinge bracket assembly and ensure alignment with the already #12 sized holes on the rear spar reinforcement/rear spar?

2.) I am unsatisfied with the #12 holes I drilled in the rear spar reinforcement (HS-609PP). They are oblong, not perpendicular, and therefore unacceptable I believe. If I reorder HS-609PP, should I start fresh and also reorder the HS-603PP?

3.) In looking at the rear spar channel, I was apparently careless. There are quite a few scratches in the surface, some of which "catch" my fingernail. If I Scotchbrite the scratches out, do I then just spray some self-etching rattle can primer to take replace the alclad that I have scraped away? It will be unpleasing, aesthetically, but its the rear spar channel, so it won't be seen.

Not gonna lie, coming back to the project after only having just started and finding these errors has been humbling.

 

[Billythekid]

pm .. enjoy the journey

 

[bruceh]

I can't see the photos...

My advice is to build on and consult with a Tech Counselor or other RV builder about the quality of your workmanship. Perfect can be the enemy of "good enough".

If when you get down the road on the build and the tail still bothers you, then reassess the situation. You'll have a better idea of how to fix it. Everyone starts with the tail section, and that is where you build your skill level, so don't be too down on yourself.