About
Build log for an RV-10

By
Jae Chang
web@jline.com

Contents (Index)
These are links to the major kits for the project.

Section 9: Elevators Finishing (80 / 247 tail and total )

Finishing the elevators has turned to take much longer than i would have thought. There are a lot of small parts which require extra care and skill to complete.

Setting the 7 rivets per side in the attach horns for the trim tabs, for instance, took at least a couple of hours. Time was spent trying to figure out how to maneuver the squeezer into a tight space to properly set the rivets.

The trim tab bends were probably my least pleasant result. The plans recommended using a rivet gun set to low to finish the bend. However, my rivet gun does not do well on a low setting. I finished the bend using hand tools, as i had on previous bends. The challenge became trying to handle the small parts of the trim tab. Eventually, I got the job done, with a few nicks here and there in the tab. The only positive is that the trim tab is not obviously visible.

I also finally got my first experience working with proseal. It just adds to already enormous challenge of this entire project. I bought the tube to use in a caulking gun. However, i separated the 2 black and white components, so that I could use the leftover for later parts. With the parts now set with proseal, all that is left to do is wait for it to set.

More pictures during the elevator build...

Interior of the elevator before being closed up.

Closeup of the scuffed area before applying proseal and the foam rib. Unfortunately, i forgot to take a picture of the proseal itself.

Weight after application of proseal. Unfortunately, on one of the elevators, i may have used too much weight. There was a slight stretch of the elevator skin. However, it is unnoticeable after riveting.

Trim tab is clecoed to the elevator. The trim tabs turned out to be much tricker than the plans lead them to be. In fact, I believe the plans should call for extra caution when building them.

The most important factor in getting the trim tabs right are to ensure the hinge is perfectly straight. Otherwise, attaching and inserting the hinge is difficult if not impossible.

One of my trim tabs worked out flawlessly, and the hinge slide in like nothing. The other trim tab had a slight wiggle in the alignment of the rivets, which caused some stickiness in getting the hinge in. I don't think it is a significant show-stopper. The resistance is there but is very light.

I wish the plans called for more caution here. If i had to do the trim tabs again, I would check them hinge for perfect alignment before and during riveting of the hinge. Clamping an angle to the hinge may also help with keeping alignment straight. I used a pneumatic squeezer for the hinge rivets, so I was hold the trim tab relatively free-hand while riveting, instead of having it clamped to a straight edge for alignment.

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