the perimeter and the wing cutout. Use leftover balsa trimmed
from the aft end of the fuse to fill in the top of the canopy and
scoop area.
❍
(8) Take the fuselage off the building board. Drill 1/16"
diameter holes through the balsa sheeting using the four pilot
holes in each hump strap pad and the balance hole as guides.
Drill 5/32" holes through the balsa skin for the landing gear. These
will help you position the landing gear later. Refer to the plan for
the length of the stab slot and then measure and cut the opening.
❍
(9) Flip the fuselage over and sheet the open side using (2)
3/32" x 3" x 36" balsa sheets. Do not glue the marked areas from
step 3. Trim the perimeter and wing opening as you did in step 7.
❍
(10) Drill 1/16" diameter holes through the balsa sheeting using
only the rear two pilot holes in each hump strap pad and the
balance hole. Drill through the landing gear holes with a 5/32" bit.
9
❍
(11) Using the engine mount doublers and a landing gear strut
as templates, mark the balsa to be trimmed from the unglued area
of the fuselage core. Mark both sides of the fuselage.
❍
(12) Trim the balsa from the unglued areas on both sides of
the fuselage. Use 30-minute epoxy to glue the plywood engine
doublers onto the plywood skeleton on both sides.
This completes the basic construction of the fuselage. Round the
perimeter and flat sand the sides. Put the fuselage aside for now
and move on to the horizontal stabilizer.
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