Stabilator Prep Part 1

Started the stabilator construction prep this evening - 2.5 man hours.

Machine countersinking the hinge brackets.  Two of them don't get countersinks on the nutplate holes.

Bandsaw makes quick work of separating the hinge brackets.

Cleaning up the left overs and the edges.

The two thinner spacers get dimpled.

The thicker spacers get machine countersinks.  Do not use your expensive one hole countersink cutter on these as these are stainless and will ruin it quickly.  Ask me how I know..... 😥

This way of holding them worked great.

Deburring the hinge bracket flange parts.

Machine countersinking the spar cap spacer shims.

Cutting the spar cap spacer shims apart with the bandsaw.

Cleaning up the edges of the spar cap spacers.

Cutting apart the horn attach angles.

Deburring the horn attach angles.

Riveting the inner and outer hinge bracket assemblies together.  I primed the mating surfaces with some rattle can self etching primer.

All done.  Make sure you put the thin shim on the inboard ones with countersinks and the thick shim on the ones with no countersinks.  Van's calls out AN426AD3-5 rivets for the nutplates but there are no AN426AD3-5 rivets provided in the kit.  👎  Lucky I have some rivets left over from the RV-7 build that I can use.