Here's the work on the rudder tab that I've done. No pictures of the v2 in process. v3 was fashioned from a piece of 1/72 Hien elevator that was literally ripped off the kit. That was just a test mule for some chipping experiments that I conducted last year and was never completed. The airfoil cross-section was now replicated instead of the flat brass sheet that I was using. But, I put in a little too much angle between the top and bottom tab sections.
So I decided to give it another shot. The other elevator was ripped from the Hien to serve as a base for the tab. It is shaped and sanded to fit the opening.
Using the rivet line on the rudder as a guide, I traced the cut line on the tab.
The two pieces after they've been cut and cleaned up.
One piece is glued to an angled piece of brass sheet. Since the excess sheet can be easily trimmed away, I kept the piece large to make it easier to handle.
After the second piece is glued to the brass sheet, the excess brass is cut off. Here is the line up: v1 through v4, left to right.
The funky tab is glued into place.
A tiny piece of PE sprue is used for the actuating arm.
A shot of grey primer to check for imperfections. I can probably due some minute cleanup but it's probably not noticeable to the naked eye.
I think I've spent enough time on this area... time to move on!