Construction Photos Cowboy Fuselage Jig
1) The parts you'll need. Make sure the board is straight. The metal is 1/16" aluminum angle that you can get at a home center.
2) Put masking tape on the top of the board, then mark the former locations from the plans. Clamp the angle pieces to the board at the marks. Make sure they are perpendicular.
3) Next use clothes pins to hold the formers to the angle. Measure the height from the plans using the "Jig Reference Line". The distance is from the top of the board to the top longeron. Here you can see the marks for the former locations. Make sure all is strait & true.
4) Install the longerons & stringers on both sides. If you build unevenly it will twist or bend. Don't build a banana! Once all is glued up remove the fuselage from the jig. You can build without the jig, but the jig is easier - especially the round section designs. In general, start from the back & work forward. You can remove slight twists with the covering, but not a bend.
