As we cleaned back to the tail section, There was another guy cleaning the Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator so when I got to his clean spot, we were done. At this point, I was all the way back to the leading edge of the HS, on a ladder. The empennage fairing was removed, likely for inspection – so I was able to see all of the rivets back there and the bolts holding on the Vertical and Horizontal Stab. Again, massive compared to the scale I am used to working with! The rudder is currently removed as the fabric is being replaced and painted – I didn’t measure it, but it is probably as big as the left wing of the RV-8.
empennage fairing removed
attach bolts and likely 73 year old rivets in there