SeamusG

Progress so far includes building a sheeted fin with a fin post that extends thru the bottom of the fuse. This will be used to support a new tailwheel assembly. The fin post dimensions were transferred to the stab deck of the fuse. A hole was cut in the stab deck as well as the fuse bottom. A dry fit of the fin was made to make sure that things were close.

Just to make sure that the stab was aligned to the fuse I located and marked a centerline on the stab. A "T"pin was inserted at the front of the stabl. Another "T"pin was inserted at the top of the windshield. The distance between the windshield T-pin and the stab tips turned out to be 39 3/8". An adjustable clamp was used to secure the stab to the fuse. Distances were remeasured. A second T-pin was added at the back of the stab thru the fuse. To allow the test installation of the fin the front T-pin was replaced with 2 - one on each side of the centerline - allows the fin to be installed.

With the stab secured to the fuse, the fin post hole in the stab deck was transferred to the bottom of the stab. An X-acto #11 was used to cut the hole thru the stab.

With the holed stab back on the fuse the fin was dry fitted. Came out fairly well. There's some wiggle room - the slop will be taken up with a putty made of finishing resin &micro-balloons.

Next will be rounding the LEof the stab & fin. I'm thinking of adding bits of 1/8" balsa to the tips of the stab / elevator & fin / rudder. This is how the GPExtra S300 is detailed out.

Hinge slots for Dubro nylon pinned hinges will be cut per the plans.

I'll need to create a hole in the rudder bottom LEfor the tail wheel wire. The fin post will need to be slotted for a 1"long nylon bushing. I'm gonna insert & glue a brass tube to the inside of the bushing. The LGwire will run through the brass tube with a 90 degree bend at the top with the exposed wire inserted into the LEof the rudder.

Gonna have to dry fit the pieces a couple of times to make sure that all will go together nicely during the "pre-covering" assembly.

pic 1 - 3/16" framework is covered with 1/16" balsa sheet. Same for the tip up front as well as the new fin post.
pic 2 - dry fit of the fin / post after holes were cut in top and bottom of the fuse
pic 3 - stab centerline & front T-pin
pic 4/5 - if you look closely at the top center of the fuse just in front of the wing saddle you can see a centered T-pin
pic 6 - fuse top hole transferred to the stab bottom
pic 7/8 - dry fit of the stab &fin (with wiggle room for the fin post)
pic 9 - you can see that the front T-pin has been located beside the fin
pic 10 - rudder & elevator mocked up
pic 11 - with the wing - you can definitely see the dark amber Titebond around the wing ribs & shear strips

Haven't figured out what to do with the wing tips. Gonna make up new ailerons soon - thicker LEwill require use of 5/16" stock for the LE. Maybe a TE made out of 1/16" stock.