Here I am laying the templates for the P-39 out on the fabric.

You might notice that I am trying to cut my parts at approximately a 45 degree bias. The fabric tends to take compound curves better when it has been cut at an angle to the weave. Following the weave horizontally or vertically doesn't seem to work quite as well, at times. Also, don't get carried away trying to put everything at exactly 45 degrees either. You'll have too much waste; and, from what I've read, the structure is supposed to be stronger if the weave patterns vary somewhat. The best analagy I could give is to think about how plywood is stronger when the grain patterns are alternated, as opposed to all running exactly the same direction.

Also,I'll bet you are thinking, "The dimensions of the fabric cutting templateslook "off" somehow." They probably seem too tall to you, when compared to the horizontal axis. That is because they <u>are</u> a little taller than they are wide. Remember the sides of the fuse are not straight, they are curved, so it takes a little extra fabric vertically to compensate for this fact.