Fuselage
Fuselage parts are designated with a “F” followed
by a numeric. Parts have been numbered so that
the fuselage assembly and required parts follows
in numeric order from F1 to F26.
The fuselage is of traditional sheet side with
central crutch assembly. Many of the formers will
need to be installed in a forward and top
orientation. Unless otherwise specified, formers
should be installed with the etched part number
facing the front of the assembly and any top or
bottom designations observed.
You will dry fit the majority of this fuselage
assembly together only gluing at the final
instructional steps. When parts cannot easily be
retained with friction, use a single tiny drop of
medium CA glue applied sparingly through a CA
glue applicator tip to “tack glue” the part in place.
Should you commit an error in assembly it will be
easier to recover from the mistake and remove or
correct the part fit in error if you do not slather the
assembly in glue after each step! Further this
method of assembly will allow our interlocking
design to do it’s job as each successive part
installed within the fuselage will help pull the
entire structure square and true.
1. Assemble the center crutch. Locate center
crutch F1 and dry fit to former F2. Ensure
side of F1 and F2 marked “TOP” faces UP.
2. Glue balsa former F3a to the front of ply
former F3b.
Outer dimensions vary
slightly, so use the inner edge of the frame
for alignment.
3. Fit, do not glue, F3 assembly to crutch
assembly.
4. Fit crutch assembly to Fuselage side F4 and
tack glue in place along crutch and formers
between F2 and F3 only.
5. Fit former F5 to fuselage side and crutch
assembly.
6. Fit ply motor mount F6 to fuselage side F4.
Ensure side marked “TOP” faces UP. This is
critical to ensure proper right thrust offset of
motor.
7. Fit landing gear brace F7 to fuselage side F4.
8. Fit landing gear brace F8 to fuselage side F4.
9. Fit balsa doubler F9 to inside of fuselage side
F4, butting up against F8 and F1. Bond with
medim CA.
10. Fit fuselage side F10 to assembly. Square on
a flat surface and bond all mating surfaces
between formers, crutch, motor mount, and
fuselage sides - from F2 forward.
11. Lightly sand ply part F11a to reduce overal
thickness allowing it to easily slide into
landing gear pocket created by F7, F8, and
fuselage sides. Open end of F11a should
face down. bond with thin CA. Place F11b in
a safe place as it will not be used until
finishing the model later in this manual.
12. Fit cabin top F12 to top of fuselage and bond
with thin CA.
13. Pinch rear of fuselage sides together, mating
them with the tabs on F1. Bond fuselage
sides to F1 with thin CA.
14. Fit rear fuselage sheeting F13 between
fuselage sides and bond in place.
15. Fit and bond former F14 to under side of F1,
in front of former F2.
16. Fit and bond former F15 to underside of F1,
behind former F2.
17. Assemble F16 bottom keel from parts F16a
and F16b. Fit keel F16 to formers, notch in
landing gear brace F8 and slots in rear of F1.
Bond with thin CA.
18. Fit remaining doubler F17 to inside of
fuselage side, opposite doubler F9. Bond
with thin CA.
19. Assemble bottom sheeting F18 from parts
F18a and F18b. Fit and bond to keel F16,
landing gear brace F8 and fuselage sides.
20. Carefully align lower right and left fuselage
nose doubler parts, marked F19 and F20, to
both right and left inside surface of fuselage,
below the F6 motor mount. Doubler parts
should fit flush with leading edge profile of
fuselage sides. Bond with CA glue.
In the same manner, fit upper right and left
fuselage nose doublers, F21 and F22, to the
right and left inside of the fuselage sides, at
the nose, above the F6 motor mount. Bond
with CA glue.
Build Instructions
© 2011 Stevens AeroModel all rights reserved.
!
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