Brief Description: Set the forward vertical stabilizer spar
Today I received my aluminum plate order from Vans (to replace the piece I ruined by building upside down). I then refabricated the plate which attaches the vertical stabilizer forward spar to the horizontal stabilizer forward spar. This time, I drilled the plate correctly. As per the plans, I stretched two strings from the rear of the vertical stabilizer to a center point on the firewall bulkhead. I then positioned the forward spar of the vertical stabliizer so that the leading edge of the VS was perfectly centered between the strings and clamped the attachment plate to both the VS and the HS. I rechecked the center by sighting down the center line of the fuselage and saw that the leading edge was centered. I then drilled the plate to both the forward spars of the VS and the HS. A little deburring, priming and riveting later, the plate was permanently attached to the VS. I then bolted everything in and the tail looks solid. Next, I start rigging the elevators and the rudder to the cockpit controls.
VS clamped in between 2 strings centered in the fuselage
Both the VS and the HS all bolted in on the fuselage
