Phase 2 of Full Flying Stab Mod Complete

Summary

AKs' stab design is really impressive. Only problem is its made entirely out of balsa so I chose not to change the design but just reinforce it at critical locations. The mod is 95% complete. It took 5 days to design and 2 days to install/fabricate the parts. The mod added 14 oz to the aft end [&:]. This is due to the two steel control rods weighing 4-5 oz each. The aluminum weighs less that half that. This is my first time attempting this type of mod so I will error on the side of caution. Steel is much stronger than aluminum so if flight testing shows that I don't need that much strength, I'll switch over. By all means I wish to avoid adding a ton of "dead" weight (a mass that serves no purpose other than to add ballast for CG) to the nose so I'm relocating certain components forward to compensate (Figure 1). I've ran into this situation before and this solution got me out of trouble every time . I might have to add SOME dead weight but a few grams is much better than several ounces.


Figure 1

I just purchased this rip saw attachment for cutting plywood (Figure 2). I glides through wood up to 1/4 inch with ease and only costs $29.95 at Lowes. I don't know how I cut ply before without it [sm=confused.gif]. YOU GOT TO GET ONE [sm=thumbup.gif].


Figure 2



Stab Strengthening

Taking a page from AK's playbook, I cut and glued doublers for formers F8 & F9 out of 1/16" ply (Figure 2) using thick CA. This increases the lateral strength of the formers without adding a lot of weight.


Figure 3