Larry:

Let's get you started.

We want the hatch skin to be two p[lies, with the grain of the two plies running 90 degrees one to the other.

The ply with the grain running the long dimensin is no problem, butthe cross grain one willo have to be made from edge glued sheets.

Dimensions: You didn'tnote the width of the nacelles, so all I can do there is guess. Lay a steel tape across the arc of the bigger former, add at least 1" to this measurement. We are going to make the skin blank a lot bigger than needed. much easier to cut to fit than add to one that's too small. If you measured, say 3 1/2" around the former. we'll make the raw skin 4 1/2" x 8" since two sheets of 4" width glued edge to edge will give the 8" length. And the 4" width will let us make the lengthwise grain ply from one piece. If you got 3" width (Sorry I forgot to mention the 4" width) make the raw skin 6" by 9" leaving the seam in the outer ply in the middle of the hatch.

PLEASE NOTE: DIMENSIONS HERE ASSUME 4" WILL BE WIDE ENOUGH!! If you find you need a wider blank, increase the size accordingly.

Using your 3" width, cut three pieces 4" long, and two pieces 8" long. Edge glue the three 4" pieces into one piece 4" by 9" with the grain running crosswise, parallel to the shorter sides. The 8" pieces are to be edge glued into one piece 6" by 8" with the grain running parallel to the 8" dimension.

Gluing these use a PVA glue, the "Old" Elmer's that is not waterproof. At this point don't use the waterproof aliphatics - when we form the plywood a waterproof seam will make the wood curve unevenly. Use aliphatic when we actually lay the plies up. You will want the assembly to be waterproof.

Looking ahead, you are going to need a waterproof cylinder with about the same radius as your finished hatches. If you should happen to find one long enough, you can make a long section of raw hatch skin and cut off lengths for each of the four you need. But it's easier to handle the smaller individual sections. The cylinder can be a butane cylinder, a spray paint can, even a glass bottle if it's the right diameter and has a long enough cylindric section. If all else fails, a heavy walled mailing tube can be used if you waterproof it.

I'll be back.

Bill.

PS: Drawing shows what you should have at this stage. wr.