Today I built the elevator trim tab.
First I had to cut out two bushings from this long tube. I used an old K&S tubing cutter I had sitting for years in my R/C airplane field box.
See the cut out bushing on the bolt? The angle bracket hole (on the short end) is cut out to 1/4" and this bushing fits inside the hole and is the pivot for the trim tab. Here the trim tab is completed, but I had to build that first...
I didn't take any photos of the building process, but here is the completed trim tab. The two rivets on the end are holding a nutplate on the inside. Then there are two rivets on top and two rivets on the bottom of the trim tab that hold the little wedge looking piece in the end. All the holes on the front are drilled out and rivets are placed there to hold the trim tab closed. Rans pre-bends the tab so it's a pretty easy job to finish.
Here the angle brackets are installed and I am measuring the distance between the holes so I can drill the aft end of the elevator to fit the angle brackets.
Once the holes are measured, the aft end of the elevator is drilled out and the brackets clecoed in place.
Next, the elevator is drilled out on the bottom for one more angle bracket. This will hold the trim cable as it exits the elevator.
Here it is. The manual says I should rivet it on now, but think ahead...this tab will stick out the bottom of the elevator so it will be visible. Since it's visible, I want it painted. So before I rivet it on, I'm going to scuff it up and prime it so it will accept paint later on.