Today, I welded the step assembly. It was tack-welded together on the fuselage with the horizontal component held in place with a stack of wood from below, with the fuselage in a level attitude. The assembly was then moved to the bench and a few more tacks added, before completing the weld around the intersection.
A closer plate for the open end of the step was cut from 0.032” thick 4130 steel, and welded in place. Three holes were drilled through the vertical member, and partially into the ¾” mounting tube, one high on the outside and two on the inside, and rosette welds added to permanently join the streamline and round tubes together.
The assembly was inserted into the fuselage socket and oriented perpendicular to the fuselage. A 3/16” hole was drilled through the socket and mounting tube for the mounting bolt.
Everything fits correctly. My welding isn’t as good as what SPA puts out, but it is structurally sound.
