If we build and balance our elevators perfectly, then in theory the trailing edge can be placed in any position through 360 degrees and it will hold that position. This conclusion was reached before opening the first of several cans of beer.

You may think you have achieved perfection if after primer, paint and clearcoat, your elevator will balance nicely in the fore and aft trailing position when attached to the HS but not so! Perfect balance will only exist if you can demonstrate the ability to place the trailing  edge in any position and have it stay there. By the way, I'm not suggesting that this is remotely important, but if it were, the only way to do it would be to have 100% of the elevator mass centered around the horizontal axis (axle perhaps) which runs through the hinge centerline.

So just for the fun of it, imagine a plane (pardon the pun), which bisects the elevator horizontally. If more than 50% of the elevator mass (think of a clock pendulum) is below this plane, then a deflected trailing edge will tend to return to the in trail position. But if more than 50% of the mass is above the horizontal plane, move the trailing edge slightly and it will continue to slowly move to full deflection up or down (think of an upside down clock pendulum).
This conclusion was reached but not actually demonstrated after consuming several more cans!

Does any of this matter? Probably not, but for those of you who know me, rest assured that I have now moved on decisively to a different part of my project.

Angier