Vert Stab Stiffeners

gsimatos · Post by **gsimatos** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:24 pm

A little confused about how to cut the vert Stab stiffeners. The way I read the plans you should get eight pairs. The pairs are the same with the taper at the same ends THEN using one pair, one goes with the flat surface on the botton and the opposite will mount with the flat surface on the top: So you would end up with a box or square arrangement on cross section. Is this right?? This time I thought I would ask BEFORE doing it wrong Thanks Gary

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:22 pm

I think I see what you're saying ... if you look inside from the leading edge of the rudder when the thing is closed it will look like a box; i.e. if the rudder is vertical, the stiffeners on one side have the edge up and the other side have the edge down.
That is the correct orientation.

Thomas

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:43 pm

I second what Thomas says Gary. You are correct that they should look like a box when viewed from the leading edge.

prestwich · Post by **prestwich** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:15 pm

Yeah, if we're talking about the rudder, that's what I figured, too. I sure couldn't find any plan view that shows that, but figured from having done the practice kit that they went flip-flopped and overlapped slightly. If this is actually shown on Van's drawing, I'm blind or it's in invisible ink.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:42 pm

On the rudder stiffeners that is correct. One thing I did is cut the stiffeners wit ha big old shear type paper cutter. Worked great for me. I did have to remove the safety guard so care must be used. If you try it be careful, your mileage may vary!

gsimatos · Post by **gsimatos** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:30 pm

That's exactly what I needed to know and of course I meant RUDDER and not VS. You guys are becoming mind readers. Mabe I should get ya to talk to my wife. One thing, I did cut one stiffener just now and the rudder skins and stiffeners sandwich toward the trailing edge of the rudder. How fine do you have to do the taper so everything clears?? It almost looks like the stiffener tapers to just about nothing at the extreme aft end. Anyway thanks for the clarification G

gsimatos · Post by **gsimatos** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:36 pm

One other thing. Drawing shows RIGHT skin with stiffeners and horizontal portion of the angle on the bottom. Is that how you guys did it? Thanks again and will stop drinking while I read the plans G

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:03 pm

Here is what mine looked like and they cleared okay.

And yes the orientation I used was the right side had the horz portion on the bottom.

Have fun!

gsimatos · Post by **gsimatos** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:51 pm

John Yep that is exactly what I was wondering about, thanks for photo and help to all, Gary

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:19 pm

Yup ya'll got it, the flange don't hafta be any particular way. One side will be flange up da otha flange down. Be consistant, pay attention to the end clearance.