Empennage

N426NC "BABY" PICTURES

The tail kit arrived via UPS in 3 boxes. Construction went slowly since we had never done any sheet metal riveting. The plans and instructions were complete and after finishing the tail section kit, we learned all the skills necessary to build the rest of the RV8. We purchased the RV builders starter kit from Avery tools and a 5hp compressor from Home Depot. After clearing out the garage to make an assembly area, we got started building the tail. We did not own a digital camera at this point. The quality of Polariod and 35mm pictures in this section are no so good.

Kit arrived in 3 boxes via UPS. Let the fun begin!

HS in jig. 4" x 4" fence posts obtained from Home Depot.

Mark is using rivet squeezer with dimple dies to dimple the vertical stabilizer spars and ribs.

Left elevator in jig. HS complete and hanging on wall.

This view shows the rudder stiffeners inside the rudder.

Rudder in jig. Used broom handle and duct tape to roll the edge before pop riveting.

Vertical stab. ready to rivet.

Nancy blasts the rivets while I buck. Our first -3 rivet got 90psi @ 3secs! We quickly learned the proper guns settings for our x2 rivet gun.

This view of 1st trim tab. It did not make a nice straight line with the trailing edge of the elevator so I re-did it. The 2nd one was fine.

My kit contained elevator horn that were not the correct length. Luckily, they fit flush with the 411 bearing and did not require spacers. Early weldments in all the kits were a bit suspect as to the correct dimension.