Fuselage
This is where I started. I built this simple table, 15 feet long, drew the fuselage side panel on the top of the table indicating the width of the tubs, cut a lot of 1"x 2" wood blocks and nailed them in place so tubes cut to the right length could be fitted and placed in position ready for tack welding.
Was I ever excited when I got this far!
In fabricating these tubes in the top of the cabin, I drew the shapes of the tubes on a piece of plywood and clamped it in place. I then cut tubes to fit the shapes and tack welded them in place.
This shows that it does not take long to to be able to do good tube fittings just with a hack saw and a round file.
I drew a center line the length of the table and the fuselage was centered on the table. Plumb lines, made of thread and a piece of welding rod, hung from the center of each cross piece of tube so they would line up with the center line on the table. Then I clamped the top longerons in place and fastened the 2 x 4s to the wall and this completed my jigging. Every joint was tack welded in place in this jig.
This was the start of a lot of work.
The tail seemed to take forever.
To do the tip I drew the plan on a board, clamped it in place and cut the tubes to fit. Then it was tack welded in place.
It slowly came together.
More work than one would think. But progressing.
I made this great little table to my work height. I could cut and file tubing in the vice, grind and drill without bending over. I could also move it around the garage easily; it had casters on two if its legs.
My wife, Judy, checking out her investment.
I could not help myself, I had to try it for fit also.
This gives a good idea of the amount of work up to this point.
Another good view of the amount of work.
The tail finally finished!
Wherever there were bushing, steel on steel, I tried to use delrin blocks.
One wing fitted and it is still in the garage.
Upside down in this shot and it sure looks like a lot is going on.
The airframe was finally powder coated.
I was into the wiring stage.
This shows the final engine mount, changed because of a vacuum pump.
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The Building of my Tailwind Continued - The Initial Flying - Journey Home
Metal Wing? - Wood Wing?
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