| DTBR's Airplane Project Aft Fuselage |
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| Last Updated: 11/11/01 |
| We began the fuselage skins on 22 September 2001. The process started quite slowly, because a number of 801 builders indicated that the fuselage kit was not as well documented as the previous kits. They were right. I spent the first weekend just reading and re-reading the manual, errata sheets, lessons learned e-mail, and looking at all the parts. One source of confusion is that the drawings included in the manual suggest a slightly different sequence than does the text in the manual. Additionally, the errata sheets describe yet a slightly different approach. What I finally concluded is that the process needs to start with the side skins since they provide the reference points for everything else. Drilling and clecoing the longerons to the side skin using #40 bits is the right way to go at this point. The lower longerons were then removed for drill and clecoing to the lower skins. |
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| The lower longerons clecoed to the bottom skin makes that assembly rigid enough move around during installation of the access hatch. We then cleaned, primed, and riveted the lower skin panel assembly together. |
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| We also riveted the side panel assemblies together to make them rigid. Specifically, we riveted the upper longerons and the "L" braces to the inside of the side skins. This then allowed for easy assembly of the side skins to the lower skin. Below, I'm on the table along with our aft fuselage. |
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| With the side assemblies clecoed to the lower skin assembly and supported with braces along the table, we installed the upper skin and drilled the final leg of the upper longerons. At left, our friend Mike Fletcher is lending a hand at drilling and clecoing. The great thing about this project is that we can get all of our guests in the act whenever they want to! Thanks for the help Mike! |