This frame is glued to the front face of the forward wing spar. Since this spar also carries one end of the landing gear pivot shaft, I've clamped the forward spar to the main spar using the landing gear pivot hardware for alignment. Next, I leveled the main wing spar, and checked for vertical on the #4 fuselage frame center line, since that frame is now glued to the main spar. Finally, I attached a plumb bob at the center line on the top of frame #3, and clamped the frame in place with the plumb bob over the front spar centerline after making sure that centerline matches the spar centerlines.
After double-checking all of this, I'll drill holes for dowel alignment pins so all of this can be unclamped and reclamped for gluing. Also, there is a cavity between the frame and spar that needs to be varnished.
The gray metal gadget is a drill guide to assist in getting the dowel alignment pins square.
The view here is from aft. You might wonder why the forward spar is clamped behind the main spar. It's just that this turns out to be a convenient arrangement for aligning the landing gear hardware, and everything else is relative to the gear. There's no chance I'll forget to put the front spar in front eventually.
The #3 frame carries the base of the windshield.
Jerry, I think you should have sat on a box in there to give us some idea of the final set up. BTW, congratulations on the recent engagement!
Posted by: Geoff Chambers | January 06, 2011 at 11:42 AM