Covering fuselage
- Thread starter Ron B.
- Start date
Longwinglover
Registered User
Charlotte, NC
Ron,
As far as going from bare frame to ready to paint, the fuselage is much faster! It only requires three stitches on the top rib of the fin.
Three pieces of fabric: left and right sides from top center stringer to lower longeron, and bottom. Probably the hardest thing is to get the fabric glued and tucked into the rear window channel (don't glue it to the "outside" of the "D" frame).
Remember to "tweak" your fin for trim (front top corner towards the left as seen from behind). If your fin is new make sure that the hinge on the fin and rudder line up!
John Scott
As far as going from bare frame to ready to paint, the fuselage is much faster! It only requires three stitches on the top rib of the fin.
Three pieces of fabric: left and right sides from top center stringer to lower longeron, and bottom. Probably the hardest thing is to get the fabric glued and tucked into the rear window channel (don't glue it to the "outside" of the "D" frame).
Remember to "tweak" your fin for trim (front top corner towards the left as seen from behind). If your fin is new make sure that the hinge on the fin and rudder line up!
John Scott
Longwinglover
Registered User
Charlotte, NC
Ron,
Well, simply put, it looks ugly!
You cannot get a smooth even glue job and it will show very clearly. In his siminars, Clyde Smith, Jr. suggests using a small plumbers helper to make sure the fabric is pulled up in this area (after the glue is dry and you have a coat of something on the fabric to make it non-porus).
John Scott
Well, simply put, it looks ugly!
You cannot get a smooth even glue job and it will show very clearly. In his siminars, Clyde Smith, Jr. suggests using a small plumbers helper to make sure the fabric is pulled up in this area (after the glue is dry and you have a coat of something on the fabric to make it non-porus).John Scott
Longwinglover
Registered User
Charlotte, NC
Ron,
Well, I might call her baby, and as to her uses...
The tool is the plunger/suction cup on a handle.
John Scott
Well, I might call her baby, and as to her uses...
The tool is the plunger/suction cup on a handle.
John Scott
I actually have three that I use all the time. A 4" diameter one with a thumb-release suction-breaker button that is REAL handy for checking out whether Martin clips or screws are still securing wing "stitches" and about a thousand other purposes I never realized I needed it for until I owned it! I think it was made for handling glass panes. And a couple of 19 cent "grab-barrel specials" from by the checkout counter at Sears Hardware (I'll "grab" a half dozen of each on the way to the checkout). Two inch and one inch diameter ones, primarily for "lifting stickdowns" on recover jobs. GREAT little tools to have around!
T.J.
Registered User
Alaska
Phil, yep I agree, but the original question was covering the frame. Just covering the fuselage with no alterations, repairs or unusual stuff, I figure the same as a wing.
I've kept track of a few cover jobs, kinda/sorta, and I come up with 40/50 hrs each for 1 wing, fuselage and control surfaces. My Total time for a COVER job only is about 200 hrs. Minor clean up is included. Do you have any figures? Just courious.
I've kept track of a few cover jobs, kinda/sorta, and I come up with 40/50 hrs each for 1 wing, fuselage and control surfaces. My Total time for a COVER job only is about 200 hrs. Minor clean up is included. Do you have any figures? Just courious.
Jon
I'm using medium fabric everywhere, I hope this is ok! That what I was told to use, I might have miss something?
The five tabs each side of the jack screw are for the strakes that accompany the BLR vortex generators. The six tabs below the jack screw on the bottom of the frame are for a alum. panel, so I'm told. If you what to be sure check with Smith's.
I'm using medium fabric everywhere, I hope this is ok! That what I was told to use, I might have miss something?
The five tabs each side of the jack screw are for the strakes that accompany the BLR vortex generators. The six tabs below the jack screw on the bottom of the frame are for a alum. panel, so I'm told. If you what to be sure check with Smith's.
After , believe it or not , 55hrs (app) we still have 2 or 3 tapes left to install on the fuselage! It takes a long time marking , wetting out then applying the tapes. Iron the first ones down, then wet out for the next tape, first thing you know the day's gone. Hopefully we'll finish up on Monday? Then on to the spray booth.
I'm just wandering as to how we're progressing according to other first time builders?
I'm just wandering as to how we're progressing according to other first time builders?
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