I'm working my way through the plans generally in order, and the next two sections coming up for me are the installation of the cabin top / doors and the wings.
I'm working in a shared hangar and my fuselage is resting on furniture dollies and stacks of styrofoam and cardboard. I'm concerned that as I add more weight and size with the top and wings, that this will become rather heavy and could get unbalanced / tip over if someone else hits it. There are a few other planes in this hangar (it's 10,000 square feet), a shared huge air compressor, etc etc. Moving everything around on small casters is getting harder as this gets bigger and heavier.
So, I think it makes sense to install the landing gear prior to the cabin top and wings. Better balance (probably tail heavy, but won't roll over) and easier to move. Yes, it means everything is a bit higher to work on, but I can live with that.
The nose gear attaches to the engine mount, and it looks like it will be easier to rivet all the cowling hinges on BEFORE I attach the engine mount, given that a few rivets in the upper corners of the engine mount are right up against the mounting points. Attaching the hinges commits me to riveting the upper front fuselage in place since they connect the upper fuselage and firewall.
With me so far? Here is the question...
If I'm planning to do an all-glass panel, probably a pre-made panel from a third party, how hard will it be to do all that interior panel work with the upper fuselage in place? There are examples in the plans for how to modify the internal structure for the various components each builder may or may not have, once the panel is planned out. Riveting the upper fuselage in place commits me to doing any of that modification work in place, sitting or laying in the front seat, rather than removing the section and working on a bench.
Is this a big mistake to attach everything now? Will I regret not doing that upper fuselage work outside of the plane? Or can I do all of that with the upper fuselage in place? I'm 5'9" and moderately flexible, so it's not like I cannot crawl/fit under/around the front of the plane as needed.
I'm working in a shared hangar and my fuselage is resting on furniture dollies and stacks of styrofoam and cardboard. I'm concerned that as I add more weight and size with the top and wings, that this will become rather heavy and could get unbalanced / tip over if someone else hits it. There are a few other planes in this hangar (it's 10,000 square feet), a shared huge air compressor, etc etc. Moving everything around on small casters is getting harder as this gets bigger and heavier.
So, I think it makes sense to install the landing gear prior to the cabin top and wings. Better balance (probably tail heavy, but won't roll over) and easier to move. Yes, it means everything is a bit higher to work on, but I can live with that.
The nose gear attaches to the engine mount, and it looks like it will be easier to rivet all the cowling hinges on BEFORE I attach the engine mount, given that a few rivets in the upper corners of the engine mount are right up against the mounting points. Attaching the hinges commits me to riveting the upper front fuselage in place since they connect the upper fuselage and firewall.
With me so far? Here is the question...
If I'm planning to do an all-glass panel, probably a pre-made panel from a third party, how hard will it be to do all that interior panel work with the upper fuselage in place? There are examples in the plans for how to modify the internal structure for the various components each builder may or may not have, once the panel is planned out. Riveting the upper fuselage in place commits me to doing any of that modification work in place, sitting or laying in the front seat, rather than removing the section and working on a bench.
Is this a big mistake to attach everything now? Will I regret not doing that upper fuselage work outside of the plane? Or can I do all of that with the upper fuselage in place? I'm 5'9" and moderately flexible, so it's not like I cannot crawl/fit under/around the front of the plane as needed.