Elevator – Part 6

First, not sure if my videos are too short, too fast, too long, or need more details.  I have thought of doing some voice overs vs the blog posts, but not sure how interesting that would be.  Any comments here or on YouTube would be appreciated.

Starting the final assembly of the first elevator.  Putting the tip ribs together with the squeezer.  Squeezer barely fit but it worked out well.  Next comes the spars and adding the elevator horns.  Next I’m dimpling the nutplates and attaching them to the reinforcement plate.  (I can’t wait to start setting up the dash!)

Next up is back-riveting the ribs to the skins and attaching the rear spar and shear clips.   Attaching the second skin and we are starting to look like an elevator.  Even with all the issues using my blind riveter in the last update, I didn’t have any issues with the ribs and needing the special tool.

I was trying to find a good way to buck some of the rivets on the skin and the rear spar.  Don’t do what I tried, just read the directions and clamp the rear spar to the bench.  It’s easier.  Trust me.

I also elected not to create the “special bucking bar” and just ordered the blind rivets for called out for in the Vans instructions.  If someone local was willing to lend me their bucking bar, I may have attempted it but really don’t think it’s a big deal using the blind rivets.