Matt's RV-8 Project



Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date:  3-11-2010
Number of Hours:  2.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Upper Fiberglass Tail Fairing Install - Part 1

The area between the Vertical and Horizontal Stabilizer is covered with a fiberglass fairing. The unit provided in the kit is rough cut about 1" larger in all dimensions, allowing the builder to cut it down to match the particular installation. Additionally, the area around the elevator control horns is not cut out and needs to be measured and cut to fit.

Once the fairing is cut down to size and sanded, initial mounting holes are drilled using the 'ol trusty hole duplicating tool from the canopy installation. The holes for the platenuts are left unriveted in the fuselage and Stabilizers and can now be used. Since access to these areas is pretty limited now that the tail is installed, I opted to use rivnuts instead of platenuts. I think they came out very nice and were a lot easier to install.

Once all of the holes were drilled and countersunk, it was time to finish the surface of the fairing. In retrospect, I wish that I had just mixed up a batch of epoxy resin and Acetone similar to the engine cowling. There were a lot of pin holes and other imperfections in the fiberglass and I used primer and sanding to final fill them all. It was a lot of work, and would have been a lot quicker with resin. Live and learn.

After the finishing, I attached the fairing with #6 screws and little countersink washers. I'm really pleased with the look of the fairing.
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Initial Fit Of Fairing

Initial Fit Of Fairing

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Initial Fit Of Fairing

Initial Fit Of Fairing

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Initial Fit Of Fairing

Initial Fit Of Fairing

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