I continued on the tailcone today starting with the match drilling of the stiffeners to the forward top skin. I then match drilled the top skin to bulkhead holes (with the exception of the forward bulkhead).
After this was completed I started work on the aft deck. The initial steps have you make the horizontal stabilizer attachment bar and the up elevator stop from a length of 125×3/4×3/4 aluminum angle.
I rough cut these on the bandsaw, angled the ends on a the disc sander, marked the holes with calipers, set the hole locations with a punch, and drilled them to 1/8″ on the drill press.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_0059463073710169913939087151.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_0059515158445641150343004629.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_0133404448406305573838131374.jpg)
I then aligned the F-1010B Spacer and match drilled it to the aft deck
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_0216012174477711158187417203.jpg)
I then final drilled the F-1011B Stop/Doubler holes and the F-1011D Attachment Bar Support Angle.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_0137308291017860541799747085.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210301_013735435211479382753931887.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210302_0453233276208993046700599334.jpg)
I match drilled the holes into the longerons but I didn’t have a long enough #12 drill bit to get past the elevator attach bars so I’m holding off on that step. I ended up ordering a 6″ #13 bit and a #12 reamer as there are plently of AN3 bolt holes that need to be drilled and a reamer creates a much better hole.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_200300787798701203215547094.jpg)
Next, the elevator stop was match drilled to the aft deck and longerons.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_2003080134881904427501584169.jpg)
Hannah helped me with match drilling the cover plate attachment holes. These get drilled to #28 so I upsized them first with a #30 reamer. The metal is thin so Hannah held a piece of wood behind the hole to help the bit from grabbing.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_2035341663561804135787732971.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_2035406387813997829430389126.jpg)
I then final sized the rivet holes with a #30 reamer.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_2118334926191557154037111667.jpg)
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_211846753797910837633025621.jpg)
I then deburred the shoulder harness anchors and I will install these after completing the #12 holes on the aft deck.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_2119174536265898441022088189.jpg)
Next, I marked the triangular portion on the right side skin for trimming after disassembly.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210308_2315470761327999130214231565.jpg)
I then separated the battery channel parts. I plan on using an EarthX 900 battery. From pics on the VAF forums, it looks like I can quite easily fit it in the standard battery holder so I decided to proceed with building the standard mount and I’ll modify it if needed in the future.
![](https://airplane.allanglen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/pxl_20210306_21190385126471170295462595.jpg)