Brief Description: Fuselage Front & Aft Preparation
1) Preparation for a tack weld: a) Adjustment of the diagonal tube for the front floor with a wooden block at both end for a good metal contact. b) The short horizontal tube for the aft floor cockpit was removed for a further trimming so that it will align with the longer pair. c) The vertical tube at the tail end ((right side) was removed and realigned with the side longeron for a good fitting. d) The vertical tube (right side) near the undercarriage need to re-tack. e) The horizontal tube near the bend (right side of the upper longeron) to re-tack. It seemed there was a crack at the earlier tack. f) The horizontal tube for the aft cockpit floor near the square tube also to retack. e) The right side of the V tube at the V location is trim for a good fitting. NOTE: The whole process took about 2 hrs and 5 min. "THE FRONT PORTION IS READY FOR A TACK WELD"
2) Tack Weld the front portion of the cockpit. The tack weld run smoothly except at times the flame tend to form a hole. It was noticed that the torch was not properly angel and lacking of torch movement. (2 hrs) 3) Once the front area was tack welded a preparation was made to bend the fuselage tail end. A wooden block was placed at location near the place to be bend and all C clamp was placed at each wooden block nailed on top of the table. The upper & lower are heated up to a cherry read and slowly bend the side longeron bit by bit. As the metal get bend, the clamp was used to clamp it to the small wooden block. The same was also done at the other fuselage side. Once completed it was found that the side longeron was bent slightly inward. This can be straighten by heating it up and clamp it with along wooden block. (2 hrs) 3) The alignment to square off the fuselage was done but it required more time. STOP HERE. However during final checking it was found that the tack weld at the horizontal tube at the aft cockpit floor break and this require further work. (45 min)
