While the horizontal and vertical are awaiting inspection, I’ve started the rudder. I spent three hours or so studying the plans, then cutting stiffeners for the left rudder skin from the raw material provided.

Left rudder skin with stiffeners

I had to read through the plans a couple of times to properly interpret how cuts are made between the prepunched holes. A bandsaw and belt/disc sander really speed up the trimming/shaping process. I didn’t like the little half-hole left where the stiffener taper is cut, so I used the belt sander to round off the corner a bit.

Hitchhiker’s guide quote

One of my co-workers handed me this message today which he found in a piece of biscotti. I’ve never heard of “fortune biscotti” before, but it seems as though Mama has been reading “The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” This little tidbit had to get posted in the shop.