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Jabiru J450 Constructors Manual
Pre-Paint>Fuselage>Empennage>Fit rudder
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
103 of 343
Pre-Paint>Fuselage>Empennage>Fit rudder
Objectives of this task:
To fit the rudder to the vertical fin, align the rudder and fit the rudder stops and rudder cable.
Materials required:
Card # J3 „Rudder‟
Epoxy resin and flock
Align the rudder
The first step is to line up the top of the fin and
the top of the rudder: the vertical alignment.
Tape a mixing stick to the fin at the 2 positions
indicated by the yellow arrows at right and sit
the rudder in place.
Place mixing stick(s) as required at the bottom
of the rudder to get an even gap.
It may be necessary to adjust the vertical gap
slightly or sand the top of the fin or rudder in
order to get a precise and visually pleasing
alignment.
Once the vertical alignment is correct the fore
and aft alignment can be addressed: the second
step is to equalise the gaps between the fin and
rudder and the top of the fin and the rudder
horn.
It may be necessary to sand part of the forward
section of the rudder horn and/or the back of
the fin ahead of the rudder horn away, taking
care not to make either area too thin.
Take your time and get this alignment exactly right – the tail fin/rudder is a very visible part
of an aircraft and time spent now will reward you with the pleasure of a great looking tail on
your aircraft. Leave the mixing stick alignment spacers taped in place at this stage.
Use the photo of a finished example above as a guide of how the rudder should look.
Pre fit the hinges, mount and swing the rudder
Mark the initial hinge locations onto the vertical fin from the
drawing 2 pages down, then number the hinges on both sides
as well as the matching positions on the fin, including an
arrow for “up” on each hinge.
Notice that the flat side of the hinge faces out.
With the rudder still in place, hold each hinge centred over the
gap between the vertical fin and the rudder and mark the final
mounting position of each: the hinge pin should sit in the
centre of the fin to rudder gap.