I can't be 100% certain until it's mounted on the completed left elevator... but I believe I may have just joined the One Tab Club.
For details you can go to my kitlog site http://www.mykitlog.com/goatflieg/ but here's a synopsis. I faced the point where I had to decide whether to bend the end tabs on the left elevator skin and trim tab skin or go the riblet route. Much research revealed that this subject is about as infamous as the Primer Wars... but I decided to see if I could build it the way Van's builds it. So I built lots of different forming blocks and jigs, and copied the tabs onto some spare sheet so I could practice on a couple pieces first. Then I followed some advice found here and did my trim tab first, since it's much cheaper and easier to replace than a left elevator skin with stiffeners already in place. I took my time, rejigged as needed, used a lot of care... and I'm really happy with the result. As I see it, the only risk I'm facing is lining up the trailing edges with one side of the hinges already installed per blueprint specs. I'll know when I complete the left elevator and can begin fitting the trim tab... but I've a feeling this is going to work out just fine. I also made sure I primed the face of the inner tabs, so that I had primer between sandwiched parts. I think it looks good... what do you think? Did I pass?
(BTW those wavy white areas along the top edge of the part in this photo are scuff marks from the scotchbrite wheel I used to dress the edge... they really caught the camera flash, and look like dents or deformations, but they're not)
For details you can go to my kitlog site http://www.mykitlog.com/goatflieg/ but here's a synopsis. I faced the point where I had to decide whether to bend the end tabs on the left elevator skin and trim tab skin or go the riblet route. Much research revealed that this subject is about as infamous as the Primer Wars... but I decided to see if I could build it the way Van's builds it. So I built lots of different forming blocks and jigs, and copied the tabs onto some spare sheet so I could practice on a couple pieces first. Then I followed some advice found here and did my trim tab first, since it's much cheaper and easier to replace than a left elevator skin with stiffeners already in place. I took my time, rejigged as needed, used a lot of care... and I'm really happy with the result. As I see it, the only risk I'm facing is lining up the trailing edges with one side of the hinges already installed per blueprint specs. I'll know when I complete the left elevator and can begin fitting the trim tab... but I've a feeling this is going to work out just fine. I also made sure I primed the face of the inner tabs, so that I had primer between sandwiched parts. I think it looks good... what do you think? Did I pass?
(BTW those wavy white areas along the top edge of the part in this photo are scuff marks from the scotchbrite wheel I used to dress the edge... they really caught the camera flash, and look like dents or deformations, but they're not)
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