I'm sorry it took so long to reply to this thread. It did become a lot bigger than I expected, and I do appreciate all the support and kindness I have encountered here!
I have completed the vertical stabilizer and the rudder (although I am not completely satisfied with them, and may redo them in the future), and am currently working on the anti servo tabs, specifically dealing with riveting the control horns (HS-1220 L & R) to the ribs (HS-1222). I've also done the RV training project. However, the rivet squeezer and solid rivets are still my bane. I didn't really have much trouble with the v-stab (although I did have to replace the main spar and a couple brackets when I mis-drilled them), but the rudder and the AST are another story. I think part of my problem is with how thin and flexible the material is on the ribs. Even though I have them cleco'd together, when I squeeze the rivets I end up with 1) a gap between the horn and the rib and 2) the rib dimples around the shop head.
With the rudder I had the same issue with riveting the rib (R-1203) to the rudder horn (WD-1205). After spending time reading the forums, I put the manufactured head on the rib (thin) side with the shop head on the rudder horn (thick) side. This solved the problem with the rudder (although if Scott tells me this is unacceptable I will go back and change it). The AST control horns are countersunk so obviously I can't do this with them. I must figure out what I am doing wrong and correct my technique.
I've ordered another practice kit to to try to get back to basics with solid rivets, and will do it before I re-start the anti servo tabs.
On a completely unrelated note (and I will also post this in the Classified forum) I have an air conditioned room at UW-Oshkosh for all seven days of Airventure. The friend who was going to come with me had to back out so there will be a bed available if anyone needs it. The room is already paid for.
I have completed the vertical stabilizer and the rudder (although I am not completely satisfied with them, and may redo them in the future), and am currently working on the anti servo tabs, specifically dealing with riveting the control horns (HS-1220 L & R) to the ribs (HS-1222). I've also done the RV training project. However, the rivet squeezer and solid rivets are still my bane. I didn't really have much trouble with the v-stab (although I did have to replace the main spar and a couple brackets when I mis-drilled them), but the rudder and the AST are another story. I think part of my problem is with how thin and flexible the material is on the ribs. Even though I have them cleco'd together, when I squeeze the rivets I end up with 1) a gap between the horn and the rib and 2) the rib dimples around the shop head.
With the rudder I had the same issue with riveting the rib (R-1203) to the rudder horn (WD-1205). After spending time reading the forums, I put the manufactured head on the rib (thin) side with the shop head on the rudder horn (thick) side. This solved the problem with the rudder (although if Scott tells me this is unacceptable I will go back and change it). The AST control horns are countersunk so obviously I can't do this with them. I must figure out what I am doing wrong and correct my technique.
I've ordered another practice kit to to try to get back to basics with solid rivets, and will do it before I re-start the anti servo tabs.
On a completely unrelated note (and I will also post this in the Classified forum) I have an air conditioned room at UW-Oshkosh for all seven days of Airventure. The friend who was going to come with me had to back out so there will be a bed available if anyone needs it. The room is already paid for.
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