Elevator tip tip

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orchardair
Posts: 215
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:56 pm

Elevator tip tip

Post by orchardair »

Unlike the upper tips of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder, the plans show the tips of the elevators without a flattening of the larger diameter tube, in this case the leading edge.
This is how I managed to weld the leading edge and the trailing edge where they meet.
first, drill the leading edge to accept the trailing edge, but only on one side of the tube. In other words, don't drill all the way through.
Then chop the leading edge at the end of the hole you just drilled, like so:
20150228_171141_337x600.jpg
Then, using the torch to heat and a flat head hammer to move metal, "fold" the ends inwards:
20150228_171451_337x600.jpg
Check for fit (you might need to use the bench grinder to get the edges nice:
20150228_171752_337x600.jpg
Special care should be taken so that the opposite edge of the smaller diameter does not flare outwards. Again, I used the hammer and heat:
20150228_171813_337x600.jpg
The end result after welding:
20150228_173015_800x450.jpg
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Hatz Classic plans# 136