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Steves S-20 Build Site.
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Date: 4-19-2016
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Number of Hours: 12.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Covered LH Side of Fuselage.
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Covered the LH side of the fuselage.
* I spent a lot of time getting everything placed so the fabric would lay down as smoothly as possible. No matter what I tried, the fabric tended to bunch up in the area of the radius at the bottom of the fin. I decided to get it as close as I could, and then glue along the bottom longeron, and then work the top into place.
* I cut holes to clear the wing strut attach, the tail brace wire mounts, and the rudder stop provisions. Using a compass I marked the fabric 3/4" wide along the bottom and cut as straight as I could, and glued in place.
* With the bottom glued, I started trimming the excess fabric off the top, leaving about 6" excess. This really helped reduce the bunching at the bottom of the fin. Using every spring clamp I own I was able to get it to lay pretty smooth, and then I glued it to the top longeron and fin working from the front to the back and removing the clamps as I went. I left the radiused section for last, which seemed to worked well.
* I didn't cut any darts, and I probably trimmed the fabric in the area of the fin radius a little short, although I am not worried about it. I think I will put a short section of bias tape in this area just to make sure I sleep like a baby...
* In the end I was thrilled with the way it turned out. I have not performed any shrinking yet except in a few small spot areas to get the fabric to lay smooth on the tube as I glued, and the fabric is relatively smooth. I will do a light shrink before I start on the other side.
* This job is bigger than it looks. I worked on it for about 12 hours straight, and with only 4 edges left to glue I just hit a wall and had to shut the lights off for the day -- I was exhausted...
* I still have to cut out and trim the windows, but I have some family coming the next couple of days, so I am taking advantage of the extra help to get the frame of the paint booth built.
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Pulling the fabric into place.
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Wing strut clearance cut, and the first spring clamps in place.
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Completed to the stage of light shrinking.
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