7
fuselage frames touching the forward blocking. Do a check on the aft end of the fuselage for being
even when held together on the centerline of the plan view. When you are comfortable with the
best fit of all the features and rig of the two side frames, bond the lower cross members in place
with thin CA, used very sparingly. Add the upper cross members at the same fuselage stations you
just bonded, maintaining squareness to the building board surface and match to the drawing plan
view. Use white glue or cellulose glue to allow these to be positioned carefully. Make sure the
fuselage side frames are held against the building board on the flat section, and supported evenly
at the aft end to insure no twist can develop, and allow the constant cross section area to dry
before attempting to install additional cross members.
Using blocking to maintain squareness to the building board, lightly bend the fuselage sides to the
plan view and fit of the variable cross members, working one bay at a time, starting with the first
bay forward of the constant section already bonded. Pin the back edge of the blocking to keep the
fuselage sides bowed and in contact with the upper and lower cross members, matching the plan at
each cross member station. Install cross members with white or cellulose glue to allow some ability
to position. Continue to work forward until F-1 is installed. Allow the glue to dry, then add the
upper filler F-16, the lower one is easier to install after the fuselage is removed from the board.
Perform a similar operation moving aft on the fuselage from the previously bonded constant
section, making sure to block the fuselage to match the drawing plan view at each cross member
station, until the tail end is joined on the centerline of the drawing. Allow the adhesive to dry
completely before breaking down the setup. Remove the blocking holding the tail end together first
and observe if the fuselage springs or twists at all. If you took your time on the assembly and
worked carefully, the center of the joint should remain exactly where you had it restrained.
Carefully remove the rest of the support blocking you may have had in place, and remove the
fuselage box from the plan. Add any remaining cross members that were too troublesome to get to
from the upper side, including the lower F-16 filler at the nose. Carefully block sand the upper and
lower sides of the fuselage box to level in any cross members that are above the profile of the
fuselage sides. Sand the tail end of the fuselage square for installation of the filler assembly F-8.
Detail the edges of the fuselage sides that will contact the stab platform assembly for cleanup, and
check that the two short longerons that the stab platform attaches to are parallel with the top of the
fuselage, and not twisted.
Assemble the stab platform and filler assembly from the 1/32 and 1/8 balsa laser cut part sheets.
Assemble the filler block separate from the stab platform to start. Use a piece of scrap balsa
blocking pinned to the building board, and assemble the stack up of 1/8 balsa segments against
this, the aft face being in contact with the blocking to create an even surface. Use white glue to
assemble, for ease of positioning. Allow to dry completely before removing from the board.
Assemble the stab platform doubler to the stab platform. Assemble the bonded filler assembly
flush to the forward edge and sides of the stab platform, leaving a gap of approximately 3/32 wide
to the platform doubler.
Assemble the tail cone filler from the two F-8 parts. Bond the 1/16 x 1/4 x 5/8 basswood filler to the
top face of this. Sand the basswood end flush to the block assembly. Bond this assembly to the
aft edge of the fuselage, making it flush to the top of the stab recess longerons. Block sand the
filler block assembly sides to carry the taper of the fuselage to an edge 1/16 thick, on the center of
the fuselage as shown in the drawing plan view. Block sand the bottom of the fuselage and filler
block flush to complete the basic shaping.
