Covering: Left Horiz Stabilizer

The left LH stab is complete and was most time-consuming control surface to date. First pic shows panel glued to one side.

Next pic shows above panel trimmed and ironed down. Anti-chafe tape was applied to rib edges.


Each of the ribs has drilled holes where fabric is attached with rivets rather than with rib stitches.

Here is closeup of lexan strips which are adhered on to wing with double sided tape. Holes are then burned through with a heat knife. The melted build up is then trimmed with a razor blade and then riveted to rib.


Here is completed unit before patches and tape. After gluing down second panel I noticed that glue had pulled down fabric below tangent point. Not sure how to pull fabric up, I contacted Rans and they recommended using a needle. This worked OK.


Here is final LH stab with patches and tape glued and ironed down, including over riveted area.

Covering: Rudder

The rudder was completed yesterday. Individual pieces of fabric were attached to each side. Major challenge was rib stitching at rib locations. Stitching is required to keep surface from ballooning out when negative pressure is created by slipstream over airfoil. Finally, determined that should use a square knot. Was worried about pulling large knot size through hole, for fear of tearing fabric, but determined that permissible to use hot knife to enlarge hole for passage. Can see knot locations where diamond shaped patches were placed. Lexan reinforcement strips were placed at rear bottom of rudder and covered with patches.