Fig. 155.—Details of Axle.
Fig. 156.—Rear Chassis Details.
Fig. 157.—Inter-strut and Longeron Joint.
The bottom plane only must be covered; it will be easier to cover the top plane when the machine is assembled, for it would be a difficult matter to secure the top outriggers to the spars were the fabric attached.
Having assembled the outriggers and completed the bracing of it, it will be possible to attach it to the wings.
Small elliptical holes are cut in the fabric of the lower wing, through which the central supports or stanchions pass, and the bottom plane is seated home in the notches alluded to in [Fig. 148]. Next, the top outrigger ends are fitted up, being cut off to correct length and halved on to the wing spars, as shown in [Fig. 151]. The vertical support is then glued, pinned, and cross-bound to the outrigger.
Great care will be necessary to ensure that the outriggers are quite central with the planes. A point to be made clear is that if in the fitting of the top outriggers one is cut even ¹/₃₂ in. short, the tail end of the machine may be ¾ in. out of centre. In order to check inaccuracy in this direction it would be advisable to mark the centre of the horizontal tail member, insert a drawing-pin, and take the measurement to the corner of the wing tip, on both sides of the model; the outriggers should be temporarily lashed to the wing spars, and gradually adjusted until they are located centrally with the planes. Perhaps it may be interesting to here mention that this is the method employed in locating the fuselage of full-size machines.
The bracing of the planes should now be undertaken. All lift wires should first be fixed, beginning from the wing tips. Just sufficient tension should be placed on each wire to ensure rigidity. A wooden straightedge should be used to reveal any distortion of the spar. The top plane must be given a slight dihedral, so that when the anti-lift wires are inserted it assumes a perfectly parallel position.