2 steps forward, 1 backward....
Things were progressing nicely yesterday, managed to get both elevator skins and all the stiffeners dimpled, cleaned up, primed and back riveted. I felt like I was closing in on completing the empennage kit. Right skin below ready for spar, ribs and counter weight install. Left skin is similarly complete.
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Well, not quite.
The plan calls for bending the skins together with the homemade bending device made of hinged 2x10's. Did that and both looked OK. But because the right side is wider, decided to massage it a bit and pushed down on the skin to maybe get it a little closer together.
What I did not notice was the narrow end of the skin was beyond the edge of the table and just like that the outboard part bent down over the edge and crimped and cracked the trailing edge at the bend line. Bummer, that was dumb, it was OK as is.
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Considered for a moment repairing it and promptly discarded that idea, went to the computer and ordered a replacement right skin and stiffeners. The parts are not all that expensive, $63.50 for the skin and about $21 for the stiffeners. I could drill out the dozens of rivets and reuse the stiffeners but decided time would be better spent getting the spar, ribs, and trim tab built and completing the left elevator while waiting for the new skin. It won't take but a day to get it back to where the original is today and the right elevator goes together quick.
I continue to be impressed and pleased with the quality of this kit. For example, the plan says 615PP will have to be trimmed to fit next to rib 705. 615PP is the trim access inside panel. Guess what, 615PP has been trimmed by the factory, it fits perfectly next to 705 as is. Evidently, the CNC computer is tweaked from time to time to get these little discrepancies right, although the written dialogue has not been updated.
I heard yesterday from a friend who ordered kits that Vans is swamped with orders right now. That is good news for our favorite little company.
Life would really be boring without them.