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6.
Preparing the stringers
The stringers (FM1, FM2 and FM3) are made
from 1/16” (1.6mm) brass rod. Cut 2 of each to
length and carefully bend as shown on Sheet E. You should make these a little long and retrim
them during test fitting described below. Note the front end of each stringer as labeled on Sheet
B. Fit each stinger to the parts in the jig. You may need to tweak the bending and file them down
to fit well in FC1.You may want to remove FC10 and its support during these steps and add it
last after all stringers are in place and trimmed to length.
In the following steps, be sure to sand or file each interface and remember, rubber bands are
your friends. It is not difficult to get a solid and straight fuselage,
just take your time and don’t
be shy about only gluing one joint at a time.
Epoxy stringers FM1 in position one at a time using rubber bands or tape to hold them in the
frames as shown in Figure 2.9. Start at the front and first glue to FC1, FC5 and FC6. Use a
little too much epoxy as a small fillet is OK and excess is easy to trim. Aluminum paint will hide
the epoxy color. When the epoxy has set, then epoxy to frames FC7 and FC8. Frame FC8, the
forth one from the left in Figure 2.2 is different from the others. The holes in the frame are for
FM3, NOT FM1. FM1 fits on the shoulder of FC8, just like the others.
Figure 2.9 Top stringers in place
Next install the FM2 stringers along the bottom of the fuselage following the same procedure as
the top stringers. Finally install Fm3 stringers that support the horizontal tail. The front of these
fit in sockets in Frame FC8. Make sure the top surface of FM3 stringers is flat for the horizontal
tail.
Trim the stringers to length and add FC10, the final frame. Be sure it is square, aligned with the
jig as the rudder mounts to this frame. Add the rear post (FC17). Be sure the eyelet on it is on
the bottom and facing forward. The extension below the bottom of the fuselage is for attachment
of the tail skid.
Add frame FC4d .6
3” (16mm) in front of frame 5. This forms the rear support for the floorboards.
You can now remove the fuselage from the building jig.
You can either leave the stringers as brass or paint them with silver paint to have them match
the castings and look more original.
