RE: Not another 4* 40...
I've started work on the fuselage now. It basically builds itself so there isn't alot to say about it. In the pictures you can see the modified turtle deck. Not only is it sheeted, it is angled different than stock, making F-6 taller and allowing the use of tail fairings. I should have taken more photos of these modifications but I got so caught up in things that I forgot. Basically, I started by making the headrest 1/16" smaller then cutting the tops off F-4, F-5 and F-6. I drew my new deck angle on the plans and determined the new height for the formers. I made the modifed former tops from scrap ply and glued them on. I only used a single 3/16x1/4 stringer down the top-center of the turtle deck. Then it was just a matter of wetting the 1/16 sheeting, cutting it to fit and glueing it down. You can also see that I'm starting on the horizontal stabilizer (not done yet). The solid balsa stab included with the kit didn't match up with the plans. I also tend to think that solid pieces can warp more easily than built-up pieces so I decided to just scratch build the stabs. I'll be adding some sort of curved tips to compliment the ones on the wings.