28-Aug-97: Empennage kit arrives. Looking at some of the pieces! The magnitude of this undertaking is beginning to sink in.

4-Sep-97: Putting Horizontal Stabilizer spars together on the jig. The first real airplane parts begin to take shape. The alignment brackets from Avery helped a lot at this stage.

13-Sep-97: Horizontal Stabilizer skeleton on jig. The end ribs are held in place with pieces of threaded rod.

15-Sep-97: Horizontal Stabilizer skinned drilled and cleko’d. Now this looks like something that could fly!

1-Oct-97: Horizontal Stabilizer completed. The first skin riveting task went very well. Webbing straps, screwed to the garage ceiling beams, keep the HS out of the way & safely supported.

3-Oct-97: Vertical Stabilizer skeleton assembled on jig. This construction is very similar to the HS.

10-Oct-97: Vertical Stabilizer completed. Didn't take long to finish after gaining experience building the HS. It's becoming obvious why first time builders take much longer over construction than repeat offenders.

25-Oct-97: Rudder interior with stiffeners back riveted. Using the Avery back riveting plate & set was even easier than regular riveting, and it leaves a smooth skin finish.

28-Oct-97: EAA Technical Counselor, Bill Groeneveld, and EAA 1158 president, Howard Kaney, visited to inspect the project. Rudder is in the background. Bill said he was happy with the quality of work so far. He has a wide range of airplane construction experience, particularly firewall forward.

27-Sep-98: Initial mounting of empennage fairing. It needed a little 'persuading' with a heat gun, & the leading edge needed a couple of small cuts to be glassed later. Otherwise it fits pretty well.

27-Sep-98: Empennage fairing & rudder mounted with tips in place. The VS top is secured with #4 screws & nutplates, so that a Nav antenna can be fitted later. The other fibre glass tips are permanently installed with pop rivets.

17-Apr-00: Elevator counterbalance arm ends filled with 3/16" balsa & two layers of 9oz bid cloth.

17-Apr-00: Aircraft registration paperwork completed, N86CG vinyl decal installed.

29-Apr-00: Trim tab hinge safetied with .041 wire.