Rib Making

The usual routine on RVs is to do some variation on fiberglassing the end pieces shut on the horizontal and vertical stabilizer sections. Now with some 2024 in fully annealled "0" temper around (from the canopy work out) and a piece of oak I got to thinking, gee maybe I should try to form a little rib to fill in the hole and just rivet the assembly shut.

Took a couple of practice pieces but, in the end it was worth it. Now all I have to do is rivet the rib to the fiberglass and pop rivet it to the empenage assembly. I did the first one before taking the hike to the B-29 crash site in Perkinsvill, VT this afternoon. When we got home we popped out the second rib and drilled and fitted them.

Now all I have to do is make another oak mandrel to form the the rib for the vertical stabilizer.