Started out by chaning the silica desicant crystals in my engine dehydrator. It was time.
Next, I riveted the side gussets to the fuselage under the horizontal stabilizer. I think there's about 28 rivets in each plate!
I then riveted the L angles to the upper fuselage that connect the fueslage to the lower edge of the lower vertical skin. The other holes were drilled the other day, so only have to rivet once the rudder cable fairings are installed (need the upper access hole in the fuselage to reach 'em).
I then used a Dremel and small sanding drum to shave just a bit off the left lower longeron that prevented the AN3 nut from being installed. This is a common issue to these Cruzers.
I borrowed a nutplate installation tool from the chapter tool crib. Made easy work of the 16 nutplates for the side inspection covers.
Installed the vertical fin, and drilled thru the existing rivet holes into the L angles on top of the horizontal stabilizer. Up drilled to 5/32 for A5 rivets. Removed and deburred, then reinstalled.
I then secured the trim motor cable to the backside of the elevator using the cable clips I installed on original elevator build several years ago. I checked the routing of the cable and selected a spot to cut a notch in the upper fuselage skin to keep the cable from chafing on the elevator control horn. Will figure out how to add some wire loom to protect the cable.
The last item was to install safety wire in each end of the main elevator hinge. I had to finish driving the pin into the hinge since it was not all the way in. The holes in the hinge were previously drilled so it was a simple matter to add the safety wire as per plans.
