Spent a bit of time working on the fuselage this weekend. After installing the T-Nuts for the Sullivan tail wheel in the fuselage bottom, I spent some time fussing about with the formers and the fuselage top and bottom pieces. I followed the basic approach that SeamusG used in his very well done Hog Bipe Build Thread on RCU. I used some 1/4″ balsa blocks to pin the forward section of the fuselage to the building board, I then dry fit the formers and other parts together with clamps, tape, and rubber bands, fussing about until everything was square.

To ensure that I had everything straight, I set up my laser level with a vertical beam, and lined it up with the fuselage, checking that it hit the top center of each former. I also dry fit the rudder to ensure that it would install square. When happy with this, I went ahead and started to apply medium CA working from the bottom up as described in the instructions. Hopefully, everything stayed straight and square while gluing.

Just like SeamusG described in his build thread, I also ended up with a bit of a gap between the in the fuselage bottom plate and sides near the front of the plate. I decided, the fill the gap in with a bit of aliphatic resin (Tite Bond). As a bit of extra insurance, I used some balsa triangle stock to reinforce the joint between the bottom plate and fuselage sides and F5. I probably would not have done this if I had gotten a good wood-to-wood bond joint between the sides and the bottom near F5, but the area right behind the wings tends to be a weak spot in many planes, and for a gram or two of weight, this will add a lot strength.

I also started planning out the battery hatch. Although SeamusG built a glow plane, his build included a mod to add hatch to access the fuel tank. Following his lead, I will add a hatch between F1 and F2. With this in mind, I realized that I should not have glued F1A to the back side of the firewall F1. This double really is not there for strength, but as a place to attach the stringers used to help shape the forward section sheeting. Instead I want to use this piece as the front section of the hatch.

With a little care and a long X-Acto blade, I sliced F1A off from the firewall. The back side is a bit damages and the part will be too week to use for the hatch, but it is in good enough shape to be used as a pattern to cut a new piece. A little sanding and the back of the firewall looks like F1A was never there!

Next up will be the creation of the hatch floor and bulkheads in order to prepare for sheeting. I also will need to modify  and reinforce the fuel tank floor to serve as a battery tray.