Panther Sport Aircraft Forums

Great feedback, guys. Kevin, I think I will do your method with stainless and dremel. May not be necessary but I like the idea of having it jigged while riveting. I need all the help I can get keeping things straight and true.

WARNING,
Wing structure can twist with only clecos installed in the skin. A cleco is a smaller diameter than a rivet, this allows some flex of the structure. You can generate several 1/10 ths of a degree with just clecos installed. It does take some force to move it, but it is possible. I specifically tried this while building mine, and at least one builder found it the hard way.

I too may "assume" that once the skin is drilled and clecoed in the fixture that it "may" not move in the riveting process but I am not willing to take that chance. IMHO locking down the skeleton prior to riveting is the last, best and final chance of insuring a straight and untwisted surface.

Kevin

I suspect that once the skins are fitted and drilled to the ribs/spars, they will stay alligned/fixed when riveted regardless whether he structure is fixed in a “jig” or not.

Myron,

I just did exactly as you described. I slid a small piece of stainless between the skin and the spar and cut off the excess with a dremel, then popped the few rivets that I had left out. I am hesitant to rivet the surface without having it locked down in it's jig.

Kevin

should have been "fixturing" ends

Myron,

Trim the spar ends so they are flush with the outside of the ribs and then reassemble the HT structure with clecos. Use your 2x4's to support and elevate the HT but be careful not to bump a cleco. After assembly use wooden shims between the 2x4's and the trailing edge to keep the structure from rocking and then verify that there is no twist in the assembly. Start riveting per the manual. Flip the HT over and repeat on the opposite side.

Mike

I'm ready to rivet skins on horizontal tail. Cant find anything in the manual about cutting the fixturing ends of the spars. I would assume riveting the skins (both sides) except the outside ribs. Then, carefully cut spar ends while sliding material between skin and spar to protect skin. Then, finish riveting skins to outside ribs and outside ends of hinge. Is this a good method?
Suggestions welcomed.