Brief Description: Completed the rudder leading edge.
Tonight I tried a 1/2" pipe and rolled each section of skin between the rod end bearings individually. This worked well and was much easier to handle by myself than the entire leading edge at once.
The second picture shows an end view of the rudder leading edge clecoed together. The radius is pretty close to the plans and should work out fine. I then matched drilled all the holes, deburred, and used pulled rivets to secure the rolled skins together.
The third picture is of the completed rudder! It turned out really well I think and the skins look great and don't have any oil canning. Oil canning is when you press down on one skin between a stiffener and the skin on the other side of the stiffener moves up and makes a "ga-doink" sound.
The rudder was more of a challenge than the stabilizers with its .018" thick skins, but it turned out nice. The elevators are next and they are constructed a lot like the rudder except the left one has a trim tab which a lot of people struggle with. I may call in my neighbors for reinforcements when I get to that part. It is nice to have another pice of artwork to hang in the bar!
