James Anderson - Experimental Aircraft Builder's Log

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Date: 6-5-2012
Number of Hours: 1.00
Manual Reference:
Brief Description: Micro fitting trim tab spars and molding elevator

Today I fitted the upper left elevator skin to the newly constructed trim tab mini-spars. After that, I reallyl ventured into the experimental realm. The elevator weights are missing from my kit (bought by the first owner in 1993). Replacements from Lancair are $80.00 each. My early calculations indicates that each weight needs to be 3-4 pounds of lead. With shipping, that will amount to about $25 per pound, for a pretty simple slug of lead. That's just too pricey for my frugal blood, without at least trying an alternative. So with not much to lose, I started by molding the inside of the elevator horn with plaster of Paris, using a plastic bag to contain the plaster during cure. Image 1 below shows the right elevator with the plaster inside, front part of the horn down. I purposely used a lot more plaster than was necessary, for I wanted the weight of the plaster to force the important section into the front of the elevator. Images 2 and 3 below show the plaster in the bag the next morning, after curing overnight adn seperating the the elevator halves.

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