Attaching the turtle deck skin to the aft fuselage box definitely requires a lot of forethought and planning. Sounds like you've done just that. Everything has to be squared up. Once you have the turtle deck skin clecoed to the formers you can see where shims might be required. I was kinda ridiculous about my turtle deck skin being perfectly smooth, but in the end, it was. Keep up the good work, Dan. Enjoying your videos.
Again David, you are so kind to comment and share about your experience. I am excited to continue and learn from others who have done it before. Thank you so much!!! -Dan
Enjoying the videos but one question, wouldn’t the turtle deck skin be better on the outside of the side skin? It looks like water would infiltrate easily if tied down outside and rain or dew got on it. Not second guessing mind you just want to know as It’s on my bucket list to build a plane one day..
That is the exact question I had when I looked at the plans and the original designs. Apparently it is not a problem. As far as I can tell, the rivet spacing gives sufficient pull to the three layers of metal and acts as a stopper for water that can leak by. Also, people generally paint it or wax it, and the paint or wax adds a barrier that makes any water go around even with a very very small ledge created by the lower outer side wall. -Dan
@@danielolivermcelroy8320 I think the main reason for tucking the turtle deck skin under the side skin is aesthetics. Look at the Sonex fuselage from the side. You'll notice there is one continuous skin line from the firewall to the tail. Putting the turtle deck skin on the outside breaks up the lines and looks really funky. 350 hours on my Sonex airframe with no hint of water intrusion in that area. :)
I just had a thought about that seam. Auto body shops have sealer that goes on the Seems of cars. If a bodyshop replaces a door or hood skin for example there’s a sealer to prevent water infiltration. Original auto manufacturers seal the heck out of car bodies. Just a thought if you want to consider a bead of that before riveting the skins together.
Awesome Dan
Thanks Alan! It is getting exciting! -Dan
Excellent
Thanks! Getting closer each day. -Dan
Attaching the turtle deck skin to the aft fuselage box definitely requires a lot of forethought and planning. Sounds like you've done just that. Everything has to be squared up. Once you have the turtle deck skin clecoed to the formers you can see where shims might be required. I was kinda ridiculous about my turtle deck skin being perfectly smooth, but in the end, it was. Keep up the good work, Dan. Enjoying your videos.
Again David, you are so kind to comment and share about your experience. I am excited to continue and learn from others who have done it before. Thank you so much!!! -Dan
Enjoying the videos but one question, wouldn’t the turtle deck skin be better on the outside of the side skin? It looks like water would infiltrate easily if tied down outside and rain or dew got on it. Not second guessing mind you just want to know as It’s on my bucket list to build a plane one day..
That is the exact question I had when I looked at the plans and the original designs. Apparently it is not a problem. As far as I can tell, the rivet spacing gives sufficient pull to the three layers of metal and acts as a stopper for water that can leak by. Also, people generally paint it or wax it, and the paint or wax adds a barrier that makes any water go around even with a very very small ledge created by the lower outer side wall. -Dan
@@danielolivermcelroy8320 I think the main reason for tucking the turtle deck skin under the side skin is aesthetics. Look at the Sonex fuselage from the side. You'll notice there is one continuous skin line from the firewall to the tail. Putting the turtle deck skin on the outside breaks up the lines and looks really funky. 350 hours on my Sonex airframe with no hint of water intrusion in that area. :)
Great to know. Thank you David! -Dan
I just had a thought about that seam. Auto body shops have sealer that goes on the Seems of cars. If a bodyshop replaces a door or hood skin for example there’s a sealer to prevent water infiltration. Original auto manufacturers seal the heck out of car bodies. Just a thought if you want to consider a bead of that before riveting the skins together.