Started the Horizontal Stabilator

Hope all had a good Christmas. Had a chance to get back to work today on the tailcone and started preparing the components for the horizontal stabilator.

On Page 09-02 the plans require quite a bit of countersinking. Figure 1 shows two machine countersinks in each HS-1211 spar cap for two CS4-4 rivets BUT there is no corresponding step in the plans that tells you to countersink these holes. Also, I believe, the plans should tell you to countersink for the CS4-4 rivets using the "special" 120 degree countersink as the CS4-4 rivet has a 120 degree head. CS4-4 rivets are also used on the HS-1202 spar and HS-1203 spar. This research took me a bit of time, but, found the answer via the VAF forums and other sites.

Also a CS4-4 rivet cannot be found in the catalogs. Must be Van's nomenclature for this rivet type. Via the forums I found the following info:

In fact, here is the cross reference I found via research. The BSP and BSC rivets can be found in the catalogs (Aircraft Spruce shows the specs).

BSP-43 will sub for a LP4-3
BSP-44 will sub for a LP4-4
BSC-44 will sub for a CS4-4

Also suggest reading ahead and countersinking all of the 3/32" rivet holes in each of the components and then changing/setting the countersink cage for the 120 degree CS4-4 holes. It takes me a while to set the cage for the different countersinks. Bet some of you have more than 1 cage!!

Anyone know if a 120 degree dimple die set is required anywhere in the tailcone or fuselage plans?? Also, let me know if the above is in error. Will continue deburring and priming the parts on Monday.

Reading the Sunday paper is kind of depressing as it seems all of the news related to 2008 is bad/negative. Kind of disagree, as in 2008 WE are building, one heck of a plane, the RV-12.

Time - 3 hours