Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 10:20:05 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1794232@logan.com>
From: Bob Pastusek <rpastusek@htii.com>
Subject: [LML] Fuselage Rotation Jig-IV/IVP
In-reply-to: <list-1793991@logan.com>
Reply-to: rpastusek@htii.com
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Importance: Normal

WARNING: For those of you who are using our fuselage rotation jig, or
variations of it, be aware that it was designed to rotate around the center
of gravity (estimated) of the fuselage bottom assembly and installed
components. We found that it was just about perfectly balanced to start
with, becoming more "self righting" as we added heavy stuff to the "boat"
during construction.

This all changed last weekend when we added the top to Jim's airplane. The
assembly went from being "bottom heavy" to "top heavy" in one step. Knowing
this, and even with precautions, we allowed the fuselage to get away from us
and the lower left wing fairing hit the floor when it rotated--we were in
the process of clamping it at the time. The damage was very minor; the
insult to common sense harder to accept.

I mention this because one gets used to having the fuselage "self-right" as
you work on it. It needs to be firmly clamped and/or blocked if you continue
to use the rotation jig during fit and installation of the top. I still
recommend it, as it also allows the fuselage to be lowered almost to the
floor to work inside and on the top; JUST BE CAREFUL.

Bob Pastusek