16. Add the pushrods by feeding the housings through
the holes in the bulkheads. A slight amount of the
stringer near F9A will have to be relieved to allow
the housing to pass through. Cut a hole in the
sheeting between F9A and F10 to allow the
pushrod to pass through.
17. Glue the housings in place. The pushrods may be
added later during control surface installation.
18. Slide F14 into the fuselage and locate the tab into
the slot in F3A.
19. Slide F2B onto F14; concurrently, slide F1B onto
F14. Lock the tabs and slots into each other and
glue all the pieces.
20. Glue F3B, F4B, F5B, F8B, F7B, and F8B in place.
21. Glue F13 into place against F5B, F2B, and the
balsa spar.
22. Add ¼ x ¼ balsa keel pieces to the slots in F1B and
F2B, and the slots in F5B though F8B.
11. Add a stringer between F3A and F5A, fitting in the
slot in F4A. This stringer is for locating the sheeting
only. Attach it level with the other stringers, butting
against F3A and F5A.
12. Sand F11 to match the contours of F9A and F10
and the fin post. Sand any high spots from the fuse-
lage structure.
13. Pin short pieces of 1/8” balsa scrap to the edges of
the fuse at the ¼ x ¼ spars. This will elevate the
sheeting by 1/8” to allow the bottom sheeting to
attach.
14. Using 1/16 x 4 x 36 balsa sheets, sheet the fuse-
lage. Pick matched density sheets to prevent warp-
ing, and sheet both sides of the fuse at the same
time.
This will keep the fuse from warping. Work slowly, starting
at the center, moving fore and aft, side to side. Glue the
sheeting one stringer section at a time, working up. After
gluing to the second row of stringers, cut the balsa away
from the cockpit area (you don’t have to be precise, this just
relieves the stress in the sheets). Wetting the sheets with
water or a water/ammonia mix will help the sheeting con-
form to the fuse. Trim the sheeting as you get to the top, to
butt the sheets together. Trim away the sheeting at the aft
end as you finish sheeting around the fin post, F10, F9A,
and F8A. This area is difficult, and the sheeting may crack
as it tries to conform to this area. Glue the cracked areas
and continue. This area will be smoothed with lightweight
filler later.
15. Trim the sheeting at the cockpit area by placing the
canopy in position and marking its edges. Try to
leave at least 1/8” of the sheeting overlapping. Trim
and sand the sheeting flush with F1A and the fin
post/F11 area.
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