Aligning and holding hinges for drilling to control skins

[Bryan Cotton]

Hi all,
Anybody have a good method for lining up and holding hinges to the control surface skins for drilling?

[SvingenB]

I did it recently. I had a ruler or angle or whatever it is called in english that is exactly the thichness needed to get the right offset. I layd everything down on the table, then I simply hold the hinges in place when I drilled them. Very quick and easy job once I found the ruler.

Some pictures are here: http://onex-svingenb.blogspot.no/2013/1 ... -stab.html

[Bryan Cotton]

Thanks SvingenB. I understand how you did it. I had thought to drill the hinges first and then the ribs, but I see you did it the other way. I think your way guarantees good fit of the ribs.

[Bryan Cotton]

Here is a mix of techniques from here and Sonextalk. I used a couple fuselage parts (SNX-F24-12/13) to simulate the aft spar and skin of the stabilizer. They are .030, the aft spar and skin are .032 and .025 so I used a stripe of blue tape on the skin to make up the difference. I pinned the two hinges together, opened up the skin, and used a bunch of clamps. I used a 2 by 4 to clamp down the skin.