FORWARD FUSELAGE CONSTRUCTION
Page 2 of 3 pages
After the sides were completed they were clecoed to the tail cone box
assembly. All the holes lined up perfectly. Width measurment was
taken at the joint and it was exactly as called out in the plans. The next
step was to brace the forward assembly and rotate the fuselage so as
to place and drill the bottom skin.
assembly. All the holes lined up perfectly. Width measurment was
taken at the joint and it was exactly as called out in the plans. The next
step was to brace the forward assembly and rotate the fuselage so as
to place and drill the bottom skin.
The bottom skin was first fitted to the forward fuselage at the lower
longerons and motor mounts. I then moved to the rear and clecoed the
bottom skin to the aft fuselage tail cone assembly. All the holes lined
up just right. I then ckecked the bottom for square and braced it into
position, checked for level and square again, then drilled and clecoed
the bottom.All measurements checked ok as per the plans.
longerons and motor mounts. I then moved to the rear and clecoed the
bottom skin to the aft fuselage tail cone assembly. All the holes lined
up just right. I then ckecked the bottom for square and braced it into
position, checked for level and square again, then drilled and clecoed
the bottom.All measurements checked ok as per the plans.
The fuselage was then rotated again, leveled, squared and again
braced into position. The lower firewall was placed into position and
clamped. Once measurements, level and square were confirmed the
lower firewall was drilled and clecoed. I used a six inch #40 drill bit
to drill the pilot holes around the motor mounts. This worked real
well and prevented and scoring or damage to the mounts during
drilling.
braced into position. The lower firewall was placed into position and
clamped. Once measurements, level and square were confirmed the
lower firewall was drilled and clecoed. I used a six inch #40 drill bit
to drill the pilot holes around the motor mounts. This worked real
well and prevented and scoring or damage to the mounts during
drilling.
Click on inage to enlarge
The photo at left demonstrates the initial alignment of the right
forward fuselage section to the tail cone assembly. As you can see
the fit was excellent. the fit was the same for the bottom skin and
lower forward firewall. Once the fuselage is leveled and square is
verified assembly is very easy and straight forward.
forward fuselage section to the tail cone assembly. As you can see
the fit was excellent. the fit was the same for the bottom skin and
lower forward firewall. Once the fuselage is leveled and square is
verified assembly is very easy and straight forward.
The forward lower stiffner and forward spar tunnel web are
installed. Prior to the initial fitting a line was drawn midway on the
spar web flange and the 3/4"quare stiffner to aid in the alignement
to the pre drilled holes in the bottom.
installed. Prior to the initial fitting a line was drawn midway on the
spar web flange and the 3/4"quare stiffner to aid in the alignement
to the pre drilled holes in the bottom.
Construction of the aft lower cabin details has started. One of the
things I started to do wrong was place the seat attach channel in
front of the stiffner. It was caught during a review of the plans and
was corrected before it became an issue. This is one of those areas
you really need to read and understand the plans. If I would have
continues withot double checking the plans it would have been a
costly mistake.
things I started to do wrong was place the seat attach channel in
front of the stiffner. It was caught during a review of the plans and
was corrected before it became an issue. This is one of those areas
you really need to read and understand the plans. If I would have
continues withot double checking the plans it would have been a
costly mistake.
Please Continue on to The next fuselage page
Construction of the lower aft cabin details was accomplished on a
drawing on the work bench top. All the individual components
were clecoed and fitted to the base mock up prior to installation in
the aircraft. When the time came to install the components they fit
perfectly as you can see by the photo at far left. After double
checking all measurements with the plans, final drilling was
started. As always a center line was drawn on the base of the
components to ensure proper alighment with the pre-drilled holes
in the cabin floor. When placed into the aircraft all alignments
were right on. After drilling and placing clecos I had to check the
control rod clearance. As you can see by the far left photo, ther
was no rubbing or contact with any of the components throught
the full travel of the control rod. The seat pan was placed into the
fuselage to check dimensions and fit in photo at left.
drawing on the work bench top. All the individual components
were clecoed and fitted to the base mock up prior to installation in
the aircraft. When the time came to install the components they fit
perfectly as you can see by the photo at far left. After double
checking all measurements with the plans, final drilling was
started. As always a center line was drawn on the base of the
components to ensure proper alighment with the pre-drilled holes
in the cabin floor. When placed into the aircraft all alignments
were right on. After drilling and placing clecos I had to check the
control rod clearance. As you can see by the far left photo, ther
was no rubbing or contact with any of the components throught
the full travel of the control rod. The seat pan was placed into the
fuselage to check dimensions and fit in photo at left.
I just had to place the glare shield in and windshield bow to be
able to sit and make airplane noises prior to installing the flight
controls to ensure there was no interference with the control
stick. It was a good thing I checked the clearances at this point as
I found that the seat pan was interfering with full control
deflection of the flight controls. See more info in Fwd Fuselage
page 3.
able to sit and make airplane noises prior to installing the flight
controls to ensure there was no interference with the control
stick. It was a good thing I checked the clearances at this point as
I found that the seat pan was interfering with full control
deflection of the flight controls. See more info in Fwd Fuselage
page 3.