Structurally, the SBD's elevators are now nearly complete.
A view of the SBD’s elevators following the completion of most structural repairs; the righthand unit is lying flat on the bench. The still-detached leading edge skins are visible standing on edge at the far end of the workbench. These parts will be fitted once each elevator can be offered up against its corresponding horizontal stabilizer (presently still under restoration elsewhere) to ensure proper alignment. That will then allow confirmation of the exact position for the trailing edge bow-to-spar join, ensuring a smooth airflow transition from horizontal stabilizer to elevator. Also visible, standing on end beside the leading edge skins, is the elevator interconnect torque tube (dark green) which links the two elevators together rigidly once attached. This is a fully restored original (from a donor airframe) and ready for fitment. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)

SBD Elevators Update:

Restoration progress with the SBD’s Wing Center Section has continued at a significant pace in recent months, but this has not allowed other aspects of the project to fall behind. Indeed, Pioneer Aero’s Hadon Smith reports that structural work on both Dauntless elevators is now all-but complete. Les Wilson pursued this effort, salvaging roughly half of the original material from elevators which came with the project from a donor airframe. Even so, Wilson did have to refabricate the spars for each elevator, along with several ribs. He also rebuilt the righthand trim tab with newly-fabricated parts (except the hinge points), while the lefthand trim tab featured a new spar and remanufactured hinge points.

Structurally, the SBD's elevators are now nearly complete.
Another photograph of the SBD’s elevators. This image provides a better view of the elevator interconnect torque tube (dark green) and the two leading edge skins. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Structurally, the SBD's elevators are now nearly complete.
Another view of the quality workmanship applied in restoring the SBD’s elevators, which are essentially complete now, structurally speaking. As in the previous images, the righthand unit is lying flat on the bench. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)

Next Steps:

Wilson is presently awaiting delivery of the horizontal stabilizers, under restoration elsewhere, before pursuing the final steps in restoring the elevators. When these items arrive, he will be able to install the leading edge tip skins and join the trailing edge bows to the spar of each elevator to complete their structural repairs. This will ensure a smooth transition between each horizontal stabilizer and its elevator. Once the metal structure for each elevator is finished, Wilson will then apply a new fabric covering.

Structurally, the SBD's elevator trim tabs are now nearly complete.
A view of the freshly-rebuilt elevator trim tabs. Their structural completion merely awaits the arrival of specialist rivets to allow fitment of phenolic blocks to their end ribs. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)