Brief Description: Fitting the Vertical Stabilizer -- Forward Spar
The first step to install the vertical stabilizer is to measure the centerline of the lower portion of the vertical stabilizer joining plate that will be used to join the forward spar of the vertical stabilizer to the front spar of the horizontal stabilizer. I also marked a horizontal reference line on the botton plate that will be used to align with the lower row of rivets on the front spar of the horizontal stabilizer. Once all of this measuring was done, I clamped the assembly to the front HS spar. Then I back-drilled the holes for the bolts, deburred and temporarily installed the bolts (see pic 1). This plate has a 1/4" offest that is designed to rig the front of the VS slightly to the left of center, presumeably to help counter the P-factor torque from prop-wash that causes the plane to want to turn left. The next task is to trim 5/8 inch off the forward front spar (VS-702) of the vertical stabilizer. I'm not sure why this was not done earlier in the process...it certainly would have been easier to cut this piece on the band saw before it was embedded into the vertical stabilizer. Anyway, I marked and trimmed the spar using tin snips and a file, according to the plans.