I'm a first-time builder looking for advice. Some of my concerns may be misplaced.
When installing the spar caps on the horiz stab, I noticed the bend angle of the spar caps doesn't match the bend angle of the spar flanges, thus the spar cap doesn't nest properly in the spar. The first pic shows the spar cap clecoed to the flange resulting in a gap between the spar cap and spar web. A .016 feeler gauge goes into the gap easily. Clecoes do not close the gap, and I wonder if riveting will.
I wouldn't mention this, but the instructions make a point that the spar caps must firmly contact the spar along their entire length for full structural strength (make sure all holes are deburred, chips cleaned out, etc.)
The second pic shows a straight-edge held against the spar flange next to one of the ribs, indicating that the spar flange angle could be bent inward a bit to line up with the rib flanges.
Should I just "build on" or try to improve the fit before riveting?
jake14
#140158
When installing the spar caps on the horiz stab, I noticed the bend angle of the spar caps doesn't match the bend angle of the spar flanges, thus the spar cap doesn't nest properly in the spar. The first pic shows the spar cap clecoed to the flange resulting in a gap between the spar cap and spar web. A .016 feeler gauge goes into the gap easily. Clecoes do not close the gap, and I wonder if riveting will.
I wouldn't mention this, but the instructions make a point that the spar caps must firmly contact the spar along their entire length for full structural strength (make sure all holes are deburred, chips cleaned out, etc.)
The second pic shows a straight-edge held against the spar flange next to one of the ribs, indicating that the spar flange angle could be bent inward a bit to line up with the rib flanges.
Should I just "build on" or try to improve the fit before riveting?
jake14
#140158