Michaelj2k

Tom's work is a classic method of providing lofted parts on an assembly drawing. The top view of the structure is viewed looking down. Each rib is rotated 90 degrees to its vertical plane as it would be placed in the stab. It looks like the stab is a double taper with each rib a different thickness. The leading edge is placed at a 45 degree angle referenced to the center rib number 1. Ribs #1 and #2 form the basis for the stab mounting to the vetical fin. What is interesting is that Tom did not loft rib #1 and the leading edge at that rib is a shaped block. This leads me to believe that ribs #1 and #2 are the same. The elevator control horn in the top left is a three view assembly layout. The control horn at the bottom of the drawing is an alternate layout using two pushrods in a "Y" configuration, probably to allow for the changes in the bend angles as the surface is moved. A visual inspection of which scheme Tom used to actuate the elevators is required to determine what Tom used. It also appears that the stabilizer is fully sheeted and has a few degrees of dihedral. The building tabs you see on each rib is actually a height above base where the bottom of each tab would be placed on the building board. This is a model sail boat builders method of placing each bulkhead in its proper position in the hull as most model yachts are built upside down on a board.

Actually from the looks of the drawing, the stab as Tom designed it is very easy to build. He took the time to loft and design the stab in a way so that the majority of the time spent building is in the "tooling" or set up of the building board to insure proper alignment.

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