Completed both the left and right anti-servo trim tabs today. No real problems with the assembly. I drilled the hinges using the drill press. Did notice one of the holes in the template was elongated and did not use that hole any further. Keep an eye on the condition of the template. Two of the templates are supplied with the kit, maybe with this in mind. The second trim tab went much faster than the first, as usual. Did have to touch drill a couple of the holes on the hinges before riveting. Maybe to be expected as you are riveting three pieces of metal, one drilled with the template. The horizontal stabilizer is next. But it might have to wait until after Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!
BigJohn on the VAF Forums had a good suggestion here. Here is his post.
Here's a suggestion for you fellows who haven't gotten to the AST section yet. I had a bad time with riveting the control horns to the AST ribs as called out in Step 3. It is very awkward getting the squeezer positioned behind the flange in the rib, which is already attached to the skin at that point. This, and my inexperience at that point, resulted in gaps between the riveted parts. Two attempts resulted in the same problem, and damaged parts. It should be noted here that these parts have to be riveted tightly together, with completely flush rivet heads, in order for them to fit together when the AST halves are mounted to the stabilator hinges on Page 11-04.
Anyway, I ordered new end ribs and control horns from Van's, and started over. This time I riveted the ribs and horns together BEFORE riveting the ribs into the end of the servo tabs. This simplifies the procedure and makes it very easy to get the squeezer positioned properly for a good tight rivet set. I then installed the completed assemblies into the ends of the AST's and riveted using the LP4-3 rivets. In two spots behind each horn, I used the little wedge tool and the hand squeezer because the rivets go in quite close to the horn. After all was said and done, the AST assemblies now fit prefectly onto the completed stabilizer hinges, but believe me, there is no room to spare!
Time - 6 hours
