Builder's Log

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Originally I had this broken down by structural section of the project, but it got too complex to follow.  Have gone back to the idea of just basically publishing the build log, in the order it was done.

The website navigation is a little clunky.  I apologize for the multiple pages for each year, but I couldn't find a way around it.

June 17th to December 13th - Started on the parts that would go in the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and some other small parts.

December 26th to the 31st - Began assembly of horiz stabilizer

Glued up the insides of the horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Built the workbench and started cutting out the fuselage bulkheads.

Finished up all the bulkheads, hung in the jig, glued in the main longerons, and ran into the "glue cracking issue."

Resolved the glue cracking issue, installed remaining longerons, stringers, diaphragms, solid bulkheads, and firewall.  Built rudder box, removed fuselage from jig and started on skin.

Installed much of the fuselage skin to the sides and over the top. Installed canopy rails, control column box and column. Installed rudder and elevator control cable pulleys. Installed elevator and horiz stab hinges and aligned. Stated skinning horiz stab.

 Finished skin the horiz stab. Lots of work on getting the elevator  to fit and work right, and ready to cover. Made the rudder - twice. Mounted horiz stab permanently onto fuselage. Started on fin. 

Finished rudder and hinges, skinned fin, added some more fuselage skin.  Made up first fiberglass fairing at front of fin to fuselage join.  Storage area cover and fin side panel covers.

Tailwheel strut install took more than one try.  Bottom longeron was a problem and had to be completely removed and re-done.  Pilot seat back access panel.

Rudder trim motor, all of the belly skin.  Access ports and covers.  made up horiz stab fairings with "fairing mix". Tweaked rudder to fit.

Rudder and elevator control balance weights. Antenna mast. Finished skinning fuselage, built cockpit door. Applied primer to fuselage and empennage.  Windscreen frame. Started on windscreen plexi.

Windscreen plexi and windscreen frame. Forward fuselage ribs. Started on instrument panel and "blind flying" panel.  Installed some instruments. Received throttle quadrant. Fuel tank cover and mounts.

Rudder and elevator skin finish up.  More instruments and knobs for panel. Start on wing ribs. Purchased main gear (project). Made parts for fuel tank.

New tailwheel and fork, more work on wing ribs, visit by Silver Spitfire, rudder pedal castings, elevator and rudder trim controls, gear retract lever, spade grip. Finished fuel tank. Purchased V8 engine!

Little progress on Spitfire as I had to build a shop big enough to continue working on the project. Ordered custom fuel indicators.  Received engine.