On the left elevator of the RV7 tail there is a small trim tab. The tab requires a that the builder fold the ends to complete it. The best way to accomplish this is with a sheet metal brake. That’s another one of those nice to have tools that I wish I had in my shop! But the builders manual from Van’s tell you how to do it the cheap hombuilders way.
First thing you make a fixture out of wood, a simple V notch to pin the end of the trim tab in place with the portions to be folded protruding.
Next with the ends to be folded securely pinned in place in the jig the protruding ‘ears’ are bent. They can be hammered, but that makes for a kind of ‘beaten’ over crummy look. I prefer to use a heavy weight to gently pressure them into shape. I have a 4″ diamater by 1 foot long piece of cold rolled steel rod that makes a great, though very heavy folding tool.
Here’s the end result, a neat smooth fold.
And finally I can match drill, and fit the trim tab in place.
