Sheeting the tail surfaces

After you have them nicely block sanded, you need to install the small former that holds the end of the stab tube.

Check the location on the plans, and mark this on the stab core. I make a little template for this out of poster board. It's just a piece of 1/8" lite ply, a square about 1 1/4".

Cut the slot with a sharp blade, then insert the square into the slot.

Stick a stab tube in the hole and press against the square and turn. When you remove the square it should have a faint outline of the circle.

Next I use a drill press and a piece of sharpened 15/32" brass tubing to cut the hole.

Slip the tube socket through teh hole and be sure it fits before glueing it in.

Now glue it in with polyurethane glue and let dry.

After drying, sand the edges of the square flush with the core. Run a piece of inner stab tube in the hole with a bit of sandpaper on it to remove any excess glue.

Now we're ready to make the sheeting.