Brief Description: Fabrication of Tuttle Back Cover
Fr12 sheeting is provided in the kit as the cover for the fuselage behind the rear of the cockpit. Positioned the sheet centered on the back of the fuselage and marked the edges of the fuselage on the sheeting. Positioned the sheet in the break on the edge marks and bent the sheet down about 85 degrees. Fitted the sheet back on the fuselage and noted the position of the sides. Marked on the fuselage the position for each of the mounting tabs needed to secure the sheet to the fuselage. Cut four 7/8 inch long tabs from stock 5/8 by 1/8 steel strap. Ground one end of each tab round and smoothed all edges. Clamped each tab in place with large vice grips and tig welded in place. Drilled a pilot hole in the center end of each tab and carefully tapped the bole for a 1024 screw. Placed the Fr12 sheet on the fuselage aligned with the Fr5 frame and clamped in place. Drilled a marking hole through each tab and through the Fr12 sheet. Drilled each pilot hole to accept a 1024 screw and secured the sheet to the fuselage.
Marked the front edge of the Fr12 sheet at the center of the Fr5 stringer. Marked off a mounting point along the marked line about every 5 inches. Drilled each of the marks with a 3/16 inch drill through both the Fr12 and Fr5 sheets. Installed a 1032 clip-nut at each hole on the Fr5 stringer.
