Before the elevator is riveted together, the tabs that close the elevator at the trim tab cutout must be bent. Begin by removing any vinyl from the tabs and outboard of the tabs where the bending blocks will touch the skin surface (the vinyl allows the blocks to shift while bending the tabs).
Lay a square reference along the trailing edge of E-701-L in the trim tab cutout (where E-606PP attaches). Mark the bend line perpendicular to the aft edge of the E-701-L trim tab cutout. While bending the tabs the bending blocks will move away from the bend line (outboard). Compensate for this by offsetting the bend line approx. 1/32 inboard from the desired bend location.
Fabricate a set of bending blocks from particleboard or wood. The taper of the inside block should approximate the completed bend angle of the E-701-L elevator skin. Clamp the skin and blocks to the edge of a table (See Figure 6-1). Use double-sided tape between the mating surfaces of the bending blocks and the E-701-L skin, to prevent the wedge shaped blocks from slipping.
Note that the upper tab overlaps the lower one so the joint sheds water. Bend the bottom tab down using the face of a block of wood, working progressively back and forth across the tab (See Figure 6-2). Finish the bend by using a flush set and a rivet gun turned down low (See Figure 6-3). Work the rivet gun across the entire tab without stopping.
With the block still clamped in place repeat the above steps to bend the upper tab up and over the bottom tab.
