Okay guys, I made a nice bending brake to bend the trailing edge of the elevators. In fact, I made it 6' long so I can use it for the ailerons and flaps too.
I'm not sure how to get the trailing edge perfect though.
In the picture below, the first picture is from the middle of the elevator. You can see that there is a slight gap between the ruler and trailing edge.
The second photo is of the inside edge of the elevator and it looks like it is perfect.
If I sight down the trailing edge, it is absolutely perfectly straight. It just seems that is some spots, I can see a slight space between the ruler and skin.
I think the skin is bent plenty far enough. When I clecoed the front spar in, I had to spread the skin apart slightly. I'm not sure bending it further will help the trailing edge.
Oh and also, yes I did have the trailing edge all the way up against the hinge. I've read on a few logs that this was the key to getting a nice trailing edge.
As always, thank you for the help and advice
Elev Trailing Edge
Brian, there's no way I'm even going to try your first suggestion!
One little tweak with the seaming pliers the wrong way and I'd have a dent or crease or something
If I revisit it later, I won't be able to put it back in the bending brake once the elevator spar is riveted on right? I'm not sure how else to make it perfect. I've already put it back in the bending jig and it doesn't seem to change anything.
My trailing edge is perfectly straight and I'm totally happy with it as is. I guess I'm just wondering if left as is, will it affect flight characteristics at all? I wouldn't think it would, but I would like to make this airplane as perfect as I can.
One little tweak with the seaming pliers the wrong way and I'd have a dent or crease or something
If I revisit it later, I won't be able to put it back in the bending brake once the elevator spar is riveted on right? I'm not sure how else to make it perfect. I've already put it back in the bending jig and it doesn't seem to change anything.
My trailing edge is perfectly straight and I'm totally happy with it as is. I guess I'm just wondering if left as is, will it affect flight characteristics at all? I wouldn't think it would, but I would like to make this airplane as perfect as I can.
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- Class C
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 8:37 pm
- Location: Sartell MN
You are safest to leave it alone as Chad suggested and it was Brian's second and really preferred method of dealing with it. I suspect you will never notice it once mounted. It will probably never be noticable in flight. I had a slight bend upward on left wing upper outer skin trailing edge on my RV-6A. I worried a lot about it but there is no adverse effect flying it and Chad never remarked about it when he saw my airplane. Of course Chad is a very kind person so maybe he didn't want to hurt my feelings. However I don't hesitate to kid him about his fruity beer!
- Wicked Stick
- Class B
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:00 pm
- Location: KEWB
I worried about this when I built my ailerons and flaps and got them to about where yours are. I chose to leave them as yours are now and fly it first to see.
Long story short... After taking the time to precisely set the wing incidence and sweep, and carefully rigging the ailerons and flaps, the plane fly's beautifully with no heavy wing or adverse inputs to the control surfaces.
Translation... You should be fine with what you have in those pictures .
Long story short... After taking the time to precisely set the wing incidence and sweep, and carefully rigging the ailerons and flaps, the plane fly's beautifully with no heavy wing or adverse inputs to the control surfaces.
Translation... You should be fine with what you have in those pictures .
Dave "WS" Rogers
RV-8 (125 hrs & counting)
N173DR
RV-8 (125 hrs & counting)
N173DR