Fuselage assembly

The Main steps to assembling the fuselage

  1. assemble spar box and rear bulkhead
  2. attach motor mount
  3. add fiberglass
  4. mount motor
  5. route motor wire
  6. Insert and align boom/tail assembly
  7. custom fit your gear at this point
  8. Fit and glue fuselage halves together

assemble spar boxand rear bulkhead

1. measure 1/2 inch inboard from the end of  6.top spar box piece and mark. then measure the center line and mark.drill a 1/8th inch whole in 6.top spar box piece

mark 1/2 inch inboard
mark 1/2 inch inboard
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mark center line and drill cross marks with 1/8 inch drill bit.

2. mark fuselage halves using a screw in the wholes you drilled

IMG_20130319_225542 IMG_20130319_225612IMG_20130319_225700

3. poke an access hole for the set screws on the mark you just made. I used one of the aileron push rods.

IMG_20130319_225725

IMG_20130319_225745

4. epoxy 6.top spar box piece to 5.rear spar box

5.epoxy 6.bottom spar box piece to 3.rear bulkhead

IMG_20130319_170804

6. slide two parts and test fit the 39. Spar end tube

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make sure it clamps on the nylon tube

7. sand slot until the camping action works well if needed

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sand if needed for good clamping action

8. assemble and install t-nut with CA

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drill hole with 3/16th inch drill an secure with CA

9.  epoxy 1. Rear brace to 3. Rear bulkhead and make sure they are square

square rear brace and glue with epoxy
square rear brace and glue with epoxy

attach motor mount

Epoxy   2.Motor mount  to 1.Rear brace.  Make sure it is square. you may have to sand lightly to make it fit. The production units are a bit tight here.

IMG_20130319_203224

add fiberglass

1. trim fiberglass to fit

IMG_20130321_155608
you want the fiberglass to reinforce the corner of the two pieces. You want to make a fillet.

2. fill motor mount screw holes with vaseline to prevent filling with epoxy. make sure not to get any on the front side of the motor mount as it will cause the epoxy to not bond.

3. lay down fiberglass and work in epoxy(15 minute)

4. allow to cure and add more epoxy if needed to make a fillet.

IMG_20130321_160135
trim edges after curing.It should look like this when done.

mount motor

attach motor with appropriate screws add spacers if needed for prop clearance.

route motor wire

cut tunnels into the insides of the fuse to allow the motor wires to pass

rout
use a razor blade to make clearance for the motor wires. Run 2 on one side 1 on the other,

pro tip: install bullet connectors on the motor side so you can replace the motor if you need to.

 Insert and align boom/tail assembly

1. insert tail and boom assembly

 

2. mix and apply an ample amount of JB weld to glue the carbon fiber to the wood

3. Align the   F.Vertical stabilizer with the 1. Rear brace

4. brace and allow glue to cure

custom fit your gear at this point

now it the time to fit that mammoth lipo or the vertical camera, custom table or whatever you desire

Fit and glue fuselage halves together

3 thoughts on “Fuselage assembly

    1. How does the clamping exacly work? Do the two wood screws stay in the 6.top spar box piece and just clamp the black nylon tube with the long screw? Or do I have to screw them in tight every time I want to put the wings in place?

      1. The clamp screw, needs to be tightened every flight. The top screws are “set” screws to keep the wings from sliding apart. You don’t want to tighten the top screws very much you don’t want to disturb the carbon fiber tubes. The nylon parts are of course glued to the end of the spars.

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