Badland Part 103 Pilots and Builders Forum

Rather than remove the landing gear setup, with firewall forward removed, I elevated the front of the airframe and am in the process of making "butcher paper" patterns for layout onto the Sky Blue Oratex.

I started at the firewall and made copious measurements (which naturally have to be modified) which I then transferred to the butcher paper. I later taped the forward end (allowing for a 3" glue seam per the Oratex manual) then proceeded to stretch the paper out over the airframe marking cross-members, gear, and lift strut fitting locations for trim.


I found that it was easier to make a separate pattern for the gear fittings; using the airframe tube center-lines for positioning; then transferred cutout patterns to the butcher paper.


Wooden close-pins are really handy for securing the paper to the airframe so that I can reach inside and mark the locations of the airframe cross-members for positioning the glue-lines on the fabric. I'm pretty sure they will be of great help in securing the Oratex as well.



Tomorrow I hope to garner the courage to actually make the first cut of my Sky Blue Oratex.

Engine due back from FL on Monday!

Nice plan Kurt. I can't see this not being successful and efficient.

Todd

A better choice for the paper would be a thinner, white butcher paper. What I'm using is a roll of painter's nasking paper from Home Depot.

I have to netsuke and transfer the cross-member glue lines from one side to the other.

ksatter26 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:43 pm A better choice for the paper would be a thinner, white butcher paper. What I'm using is a roll of painter's nasking paper from Home Depot.

I have to netsuke and transfer the cross-member glue lines from one side to the other.

Yes, but you know how that goes....thinking the butcher paper might end up tearing too easy or have other issues. There's always something you know. In prepping my house for sale I picked up painters paper in two different size roles. The shorter of the two was much thinner.

Todd

Kurt, I didn't fret too much about the pattern around the gear legs. A little gap isn't necessarily a bad thing since some drainage is called for on the underside of the fuselage. I added doublers in those key areas and trimmed them close, but not too close.