.
Removable Cabin Hatch
The top portion of the fuselage cabin sheeting (the area between the 3/16" sq.
and 1/4" sq. balsa pieces that were installed in step 17b.) will be removable so
that you will have easy top access to the wing mounting hardware.
24.
Locate the two Cabin Top Sheeting pieces (sheet 10). The wider of the two
should be permanently glued to the top of the CR-2 ribs and up against the front
of former F-4A. Then, glue the narrower sheet onto the ribs right in front of the
first sheet. When dry, sand the the edges of the balsa sheets flush with the
plywood cabin windows.
25a.
Locate the Top Front and Top Rear pieces for the cabin hatch sheeting (sheet
10). Glue the two pieces together along their interlocking edges.
b.
Locate the Window Front, Window Rear, and two Window Frame pieces (sheet
10). Glue these four pieces onto the cabin hatch sheeting, lining them up along
the edges of the window opening. These pieces form the window frame.
c.
Scale-like window bracing is made out of a 1/8"x6" hardwood dowel. Cut the
dowel in half and install the two halves into the slots in the side Window Frames
and the Window Front. Mark and cut off the dowels flush with the outer surfaces
of the window frame.
26.
Glue the two Cabin Hatch Hardpoints in place on the bottom of the hatch sheeting, centered over the holes that are
already there.
27.
Cut a 1/2" long piece of 1/8" dowel and
glue it in the hole in the front of the
window frame, leaving about 3/8" of
dowel sticking out the front. Now slide
the 1/8" plywood Hatch Dowel Support
(sheet 26) over the dowel and up
against the window frame, then glue it in
place.
Builder's Tip:
Use the 4-40 x3/8" socket-head
Nylon Bolts to keep the hardpoints
lined up with the holes in the
sheeting while you are gluing the
hardpoints in place. Don't get any
glue on the bolts.
28a.
Trail fit the hatch on the fuselage, inserting the dowel at the front into the hole in
the plywood Center-Section Web. NOTE: You may have to sand a small amount
off the back of the hatch sheeting to make it fit flush with the sheeting that is on
the fuselage. Also, allow a little extra room for the thickness of the covering
material that you are going to use.
b.
When satisfied with the fit, tape the hatch in place and mark the holes for the
mounting bolts (4-40 x3/8" socket-head) onto the Hatch Mounts in the fuselage.
Drill the holes with a 9/64" bit and glue 4-40 blind nuts in the bottom of the Hatch
Mounts.
Completing The Fuselage
29a.
Slide one end of the Phenolic Tube into one side of the cabin center section.
Push it in until the end is flush with the inside of nearest CR-2 rib. Mark the tube
to be cut off flush with the outside of the cabin. Use a razor saw to cut the tube at
the mark. Repeat the process to cut another phenolic tube for the other side of
the cabin. Note: Be sure you are cutting the Phenolic not the Aluminum Tube!
b.
Glue the phenolic tubes in place in the holes. When dry, sand the outside ends of
the tubes flush with the window frame.