Fuselage Work

I'm getting the fuselage ready for cover.

I pulled the engine.

Varnished the forward fuselage.

Put the fuselage up on saw horses and dropped the landing gear.

Turned the fuselage on it's side, so I could get to the bottom. (February, 2004)

Appyling the fabric to the bottom of the fuselage. (March 2004)

Bottom fabric tightened, and starting to apply fabric to side of fuselage.

The side of the fuselage, before shrinking.

After shrinking fabric to 350 deg. (April 2004)

Fuselage turned to lay on it's left side -- to apply fabric to the right side. (April 2004)

Applying fabric to the right side.

I glued styrofoam blocks to the aft end of the turtledeck to fasten the fabric. I decided to make the fiberglass fairing removable, so couldn't use it to anchor the fabric.

The turtledeck fabric is cut and ready to glue.

I am going to cover the front deck with fabric as well. (May, 2004)

The turtle deck fabric shrunk to 350 deg. (May,2004)

It's beginning to look like an airplane!

The forward deck covered with fabric.

The covered gear legs.

Preparing the canopies for cover. (June 2004)