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Comment by Tim Smart on September 26, 2014 at 1:11pm

Thanks Clint,

I haven't laid out the top skin yet so I will place "BIG QUESTION MARKS"on the top skin at that location until I am sure of the location.  Again thanks for the heads up. I'm waiting to hear from Zenith on the shipping of the longerons I ordered.

Comment by Clint L Gosch on September 26, 2014 at 11:43am

You probably have already identified this, but I'll mention it anyway.  The other sensitive location on the top skin is where it interacts with the rear baggage  compartment, specifically at 75F6-5 on sheet 75FA-2. If you shift your top skin, be sure to re-position the rivet line in this area.  Good luck!!

Comment by Tim Smart on September 25, 2014 at 1:36am

Hey Clint, you confused me just fine.

That is what I was looking for and I see what you are talking about with the top skin.  Cutting it oversize was kind of my thought and then trim to fit.  I was looking for some dimensional assurance before cutting the 4x12' sheets into scrap (lol).

Thanks for your help Clint, it's appreciated

Comment by Clint L Gosch on September 24, 2014 at 7:42pm

Hi Tim,  My bottom skin and side skins worked out pretty good per the plans, I drilled some of the holes for the baggage compartment but did not drill the holes that attach the forward fuselage extrusion, I'll mark and drill that once I get the forward fuselage lined up correctly (did not cut the windows since one is located off of the extrusion rivet line). I have not built any of the baggage parts, I sure hope they fit!! My top skin is more of a worry for me, while laying out the overall size I was taking measurements on the fuselage sides, I had a 3mm discrepancy on the width at the HT frames. The width of the fuselage is correct since the HT bracket fits perfectly and I measured it about a dozen times. To make a long story short, I decided to cut the top skin 15mm longer at both ends and slide the top skin on the fuselage until the width matches the HT frame width (I only had to move it forward about 4mm for the width to match at the HT frames), the plan is to locate and drill all the holes in the skin after I am satisfied with the fit and trim the top skin to the final length.  I do not feel this is a discrepancy in the plans, but more of a manufacturing tolerance issue. If you are off by as little as 1mm on each side of the centerline of the top skin, you'll end up with a 2mm error. Not much of a problem in most cases, but the HT frame area seems to be very unforgiving, I could probably shim it if it were off by a few mm but would really prefer not to.  Good Luck! Let me know if I can confuse you further  :)

Comment by Tim Smart on September 24, 2014 at 3:41am

Hello Clint,

I'm beginning to lay out my rear fuselage skin and was just wondering if you had any descrepancies with the dimensions called out in the plans for the skins?