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Alaskan Bearhawk
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Date: 4-15-2008
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Number of Hours: 1.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Getting ready for the top
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Once the fuselage bottom was safely stored under the table, I started with the cleanup of the table top for the next piece, the fuselage top.
Since I had such great success with the bottom part being straight and symmetrical, I went ahead and left the centerline alone and front tube blocks in place. I took all the other jig blocks off, swept the table top and cleaned up all around the table. I decided that the top still looked pretty good even after all the stuff I did. I tried to be careful while I was working and it paid off. I got out my orbital sander with a 240 grit pad and just LIGHTLY sanded the table, catching all the "puckers" the screws left in the wood from all those jig blocks. I then took an eraser and got rid of all the lines from the previous layout, except the front tube and centerline.. It worked out really well. Most recommend that you paint the top with some cheap white latex house paint and start over. Even though it took time to clean the table, I imagine it wasn't much to be saved by just painting over everything and redrawing the centerline. Besides, I know this one works and it's straight. After I gave it a once over with the air gun and rechecked it for level, I'm ready to start the layout for the top.
The last picture was practice for tack welding. A few professional welders recommended an exercise of stacking beads one inch vertically for puddle control. The next step would be to add a horizontal stack to the top of the first and go out one inch. I practiced tack welding for awhile and ended up with this. I tried it on a piece of tubing for a little more challenge because if the rod got stuck, it would tip it over pretty easy. The puddles aren't uniform and the quality certainly could be better, but it's always practice, practice and more practice.
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Before cleaning
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Ready for the top
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Practice!
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