Before I can start covering, actually even before I can start filling and sanding, there are a few loose ends to tie up. Yesterday’s efforts focused on creating a secure space for the flight battery. Remember, this 37-year old design assumed that a .40-size glow engine would propel it, not an electric motor.

After some measuring and guessing, mostly the latter, I cut a rectangle from the fuselage bottom just behind the firewall. I used a thin cut-off wheel hoping to salvage the cut-out for the hatch cover, but with my shaky hands that was not to be.

Regardless, I was committed. The pictures tell the rest of the story.


Even with a narrow cut-off wheel on a 90-degree adapter . . .


I couldn't salvage the cut-out to use as the hatch cover.


Next up, a floor for the battery. Here you can see a cardboard pattern snugly fitting between the forward fuselage sides.


Here we have cardboard patterns for both the battery floor and the hatch cover. Note the subtle curves and notches in the floor necessary for a good fit.


I found a large piece of 1/16" ply in the scrap pile onto which I traced the floor pattern. Then, it was off to the scroll saw.


After a few passes on the disc sander, the plywood floor snapped into place.


I got the floor ready for installation by attaching all the Velcro. Much easier to do before the floor gets permanently glued in.


Here the floor is glued in and reinforced with balsa tri stock.


Now that the battery floor was in place, it was time to fabricate a hatch. Using scraps and some magnets from my stash, this is what I ended up with. Pretty ugly, huh?


But, this doesn't look so bad. Covering will minimize the small gaps.

There are still some fiddly bits to take care of, but finishing should start by the weekend.