3.5 hrs. today working on the HS.  Did a test fit of the skins and started riveting the internal structure.

4 hrs. today prepping and priming the new channel spar and skins for the horizontal stabilizer.  Removed the defective spar and replaced it with the new one.  All set now to test fit the skins tomorrow!

1 hr. trying to trim and fit the composite end caps on the elevator.  I fear I may have over-trimmed the one I was working on.  I don't know how far out they are supposed to stick out from the elevator, so that makes it difficult to know how to trim them.

Before trimming (note how flattened the end is, which would clearly not fit in the sharp trailing edge):

After I trimmed it by filing the end to be more pointed (that was not enough to get it to fit in the trailing edge of the elevator) and then clipping off the corner.  Did I cut too much?  I really would like guidance from the factory on how much it should stick out and how to trim it to achieve that spec.  Also why was the original end cap (much shallower) not correct?  I think I cut too much off and will need one new end cap...

 

How the elevator will fit into the HS:

1 hr. finishing up the elevator (other than the end caps, which must be trimmed, fitted and riveted).  New rivet gun is way better than the last one!

Do need to be careful with the new gun though...  I think my finger got pinched between the trigger and the silver part just below it.

3 hrs. today working on the top-side of the elevator.  Would have finished the riveting except I managed to bust my rivet gun....  Grrr...

Putting some cushioning between the trim tab control horn and the elevator skin was recommended by Peter Calley to protect the skin from damage.  Recommend you do the same!

Here are the rivnuts for the access port.  I put LocTite around each rivnut for extra security.

3 hrs. today working on the elevator.

Ready for riveting...

Riveted the bottom of the elevator!

Have a question as to whether the 4 holes to the trim servo tray are riveted or will be screwed to hold the servo (I'd guess riveted now, but I don't like guessing...).

3 hr's working on the elevator and just about ready to rivet! Hope to finish it on Monday and continue work on the horizontal stabilizer posthaste!

Got the new end caps this week and it looks that they need to be trimmed similar to the way the original ones were trimmed because otherwise they won't fit. Need directions on how to trim.

This shows the original end cap in the foreground.

I don't know if I've posted a photo of my tools before, but in case I haven't...