The stabilizer is quasi ready for priming. Today all the holes got drilled, deburred The skeleton is dimpled and the skin is nearly finished. I was to call it a day when the male dimple die slipped on the next to last hole and created a perfect eight dimple. It should be repairable, waiting on the specialist's advice.

Van's anwser to my problem was quite short : if you don't have the two rivet diameter edge distance we recommend you order a new angle. But when asked what about the two other pieces that got holes they just said to remove the holed flanges and rivet on new ones made with aluminium sheet. I'm not sure I'll do this as there are two pieces involved on the front spar, so today I'll see what can be salvaged and then place my order. A picture with the complete stab, and the confirmation that I need to order new parts.

I'm stuck with the hoirizontal stab (see HERE) I have begun to tackle the vertical stab. The skeleton comes together quite rapidly.

Today, more work on the horizontal stab and a new problem. When drilling in assembly one of the ribs and the forward spar, one of the holes came out to close to the edge (it's on the angle I already had to reorder). On the picture : on the left the back side with the oiffending hole at the bottom and on the right the front side with the problem hole. I'm in contact with Van's support to assess the problem.



I ended the day by working on the vertical stab (see HERE).


Working time on this subpart
Today :  1h (Total : 15h)

The replacement parts have arrived and the angles have been more prudently remade. Then the ends are bent by 6°, this is checked with a simple "calibrated" cardboard template



The angles are then fixed to the spar.



Then the front and rear spar are assembled to prepare the skin. I'm working with only half the stab (as suggested by Van's), some builders prefer to build the complete stab at once. Here is a picture of the left side of the stab, skin match drilling will be next.