Sling 4 for Matt Build Log

It's strange how much extra delay occurs when you're waiting on parts. The spar doubler I needed took three months to ship from the factory. I could have finished HS3 then, but I thought another couple of months was a good idea. It was not. I keep reminding myself to remain calm and steady during the build process, because it's just that: a process. Processes take time and adherence to the goal. I have to keep reinforcing that idea so that I don't become overwhelmed by the whole thing. Keep goals small. Assemble a bunch of little goals together to form an objective. Don't get discouraged.

It's been a long time since getting any work done on the plane. But I'm back. Today, I skinned and re-skinned the H-Stab several times before I could get a nice level on both sides. Some builders used laser levels to measure the twist on both ends. Some used the recommended method of holding a regular level to the outer ribs. The former requires making another purchase and the latter seemed a bit tricky. Fortunately, the skins have notches cut into them right at the center of the leading edge. I fashioned a couple of plumb lines on both ends of the HS, weighting them with a metal washer. The skin notch lines up perfectly with the centerline of the end rib. With the HS sitting up on the spar (elevated by blocks wood due to the hinge brackets), twist measurement was a cinch. The rest of the work involved inserting clecos and checking the twist and repeating until the jig was complete. I completed one and a half skins before calling it a night. Two weeks ago,...