December 31, 2006 - Elevator Push-Rod
I'm on hold mounting the Vertical Stab (VS) to the fuselage because I need to order some aluminum to make a shim between the forward bracket (F-781) and the VS front spar. 

I'd been thinking about how I was going to match-drill the VS rear spar to the lower fuselage.  It's a critical area because I'll be drilling through the steel tailwheel bracket and I have to have the proper edge distance for the top two holes.  The HS-712 bulkhead had some starter holes that as best I can tell are in the proper position.  I decided to match-drill the steel bracket on the other side of the bulkhead to #40 and verify I have the proper edge distance. Looking at the steel bracket, the holes were right where they should be.  Cool!  I drilled the top two holes to #30 and the bottom hole to #12. 

Once the F-781 and forward spar are drilled and riveted, the plan is to bolt and clamp the VS into proper position.  Then, using the angle-drill, I'll match-drill the VS rear spar from the inside of the fuse, through the steel bracket and 712 bulkhead.  Then I can just drill the VS rear spar to final 1/4" on the workbench.  That's my plan and I'm sticking to it!

Most of the HS and VS attachment is done using the DWG 27A drawing.  But the below area is illustrated on the DWG 27 drawing.  There is a big difference between the 7A and the taildragger 7:  four AN-3 bolts instead of three AN-4 bolts, respectively. 

The view from farther out. 
I started working on the aileron push-rod.  I had previously cut the big, long tube to the proper length and primed the inside with Mar-Hyde.  Now, using the stiff paper technique in Van's instructions, I drilled eight holes on each end to #30. 
No big deal; one of the easier tasks. 
I riveted the rod-ends to the tube using MSP-42 pop-rivets.  Elevator push-rod, complete. 
I put the elevators back on the HS. 
And for the first time put the AN-4 bolt through the HS hinge bearing.  It fit nicely. 
Then I finagled the elevator pushrod into the fuse and bolted it at each end.  At this point, I'm just fitting it, so I didn't put in all the spacers and washers.
Looking aft.  The initial fit seems pretty good.
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