Cut and fit 1/2" diagonals between Stations 42 3/4", 54 1/4", 66 3/4" and 84". Made some more shims for 1/2" tubing alignment.
I also started to use some nails, rather than blocks, to hold the 1/2" tubing in place. I found it easier with some fits, to just free-hand the cuts with a hand held grinder, then fishmouth with the bench grinder.
I also screwed a short piece of wood on the bench, to assist in marking centerlines on the tube I was free-handing.
2/12/05 - 6.0 hours - Total Time 131.5 hours.
Finished cutting and fitting the remaining tubing for the left side ladder. Basically more of the same. I need to fly jumpers tomorrow, so I'll probably take the day off from working on the airplane.
I need to do some more reading before I begin to tack this side. I want to be sure of the fit, and cleaning required before I begin.
2/14/05 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 135.5 hours.
Did some more reading on the tacking procedure, and took the big leap. I tried to protect the table with some Exhaust Wrap, but gave up on this early. It didn't have much affect. I just tuned the torch up, and tried to get in and out fast. I checked every tube for level before I started and as I went along. The table, despite all my efforts, still has some high and low spots. So, I just shimmed wherever I needed to.
Once tacked, I hung the first ladder to the side of the table and started to redraw the R/H side. Because of the door, the layout is a little different from Sta. 84 forward. I finished drawing, but will check it again before going any further. (it was kind of tough to burn up the table I had spent so much time on?)
2/15/05 - 1.5 hours - Total Time 137.0 hours.
Spliced and welded the 5/8" .035 for lower longeron. Cold bent as before and placed in jig. I also started to fit the upper longeron, and a couple smaller pieces.
2/18/05 - 2.5 hours - Total Time 139.5 hours.
Continued to cut and fit tubing for the right hand side of the fuselage. I'm getting quite a bit faster now that I've had some practice with this.
I've also started to use some silver pencils I picked-up from the welding store the other day. I went there to buy some more RG45 rod, and found them just shopping around. I had been using a sharpie type marker, but these pencils work a lot better. Much more accurate, and easy to erase. (I have known about these for a long time, not sure why I was so intent on using the sharpie?)
2/19/05 - 2.0 hours - Total Time 141.5 hours.
Continued to cut and fit 5/8" tubing forward of Sta. 84. I also made a tube fitting tool out of 1/16" welding rod, and some elastic I sewed to some webbing. (Being a parachute rigger can come in handy) I had seen this idea in an EAA welding book. It looked good, but didn't work that great. I found it easier to just eyeball the cuts, as I had been doing!
2/20/05 - 1.0 hours - Total Time 142.5 hours.
Continued to cut and fit 5/8" tubing forward of Sta. 84.
