Well, I spent a solid 2.5 hours in the garage today working on the left elevator trim tab.

First step, let’s find all the pieces (like the two halves of the trim tab horn) and get them clecoed to the rest of the structure.

Then, I decided to forego the folding of the tab halves, instead going with a fabricated riblet. (I made two of them, one for each side of the tab.)

Then, I drilled, disassembled, deburred, dimpled, scuffed, and primed the skeleton and interior of the tab skin.

Of course, I got lazy about pictures, so here’s a finished shot of the bottom of the trim tab.

Because I’m lucky, I was able to finish the top half of the tab with no mistakes.

Here’s another shot of the bottom half.

Of course, I had to stick the hinge pin in and see how it looked.

Anyway, when I can see the future and know I won’t post tonight’s work for a few days, I sometimes take a picture of my time-keeper. 2.5 hours tonight.

2.5 hours. 42 rivets.