Photo 1: After getting everything fitted properly, we continued with the build by glueing the stab peices together.

Photo 2: Dad kept telling me, "when they see these photos, the're gonna wonder how far back in the sticks we're livin! Shoulda brought the jigsaw!" It really wasn't that bad except for the Basswood peices.

Photo 3: The Decathlon tail feathers are interesting because they use laminated strips of 1/16th balsa to form the outside of the control surfaces whereas the Senior uses all stick built. Definitely a jump ahead for this beginner build. Dad said that he glued the peices together before he started laminating anything. This kept them in place better.

Photo 4: I couldn't find the right size balsa strips for laminating so dad brought over his balsa stripper and a couple of 1/16x3" sheets to cut up into strips. Dad saves the day!

Photo 5: Dad showed me how water and balsa makes spaghetti! Or at least bendable balsa!

Photo 6: Dad told me of some tricks that he's learned over the years, like making the edges of the next layer of laminate a little longer than the previous one. That gives a little more leverage when keeping it tight for glueing and, it gives you something to cut off and sand straight when finishing.

Photo 7: Once the laminations were on and glued with thin CA, we cut and fitted the little stringers that tied them all together. We started to get into a little friendly competition about who could make for a tighter, cleaner joint. When they were installed, we thin CA'd everything and left it cure. Once dry, I placed the assembly on the Senior plans so you could see the size of both. We took the Decathlong peices right from the plans, we didn't increase or decrease their size. Even though it will take a little bit of thinking to get everything to match to the vert stabilizer, I think we can do it and make it look good. Next, I'm thinking of tackling the vertical stabilizer/rudder. With mods of course!