by mtaylor » Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:19 pm
It was my first time at doing the coaming and It was not difficult at all. The most difficult part was deciding what shape I wanted the opening to be: Stearman (big hole) teardrop or Waco high and tight.I chose the larger Stearman type teardrop to make it easier to get in and out. You drape the sheet metal over the instrument panel and/ or bukhead and then trace out the shape you want. Cut it out staying well away from the outline you drew so you can later "work down" the shape to what you like. I used 3000 grade aluminum 3/8ths tubing that was very easy to bend to match the shape of the coaming around the edges, drilled and pop riveted it to the coaming every 3" or so. I beafed up the tubing where feet will be banging into the side of he coaming during ingress/degress or if someone were to stand on the coaming sides during refueling or wild sex. Did I say that?!
The coaming was one of those jobs that I approached with dread, only to find it was just another example of the joys of building an airplane. You'll do fine.
Mark T
It was my first time at doing the coaming and It was not difficult at all. The most difficult part was deciding what shape I wanted the opening to be: Stearman (big hole) teardrop or Waco high and tight.I chose the larger Stearman type teardrop to make it easier to get in and out. You drape the sheet metal over the instrument panel and/ or bukhead and then trace out the shape you want. Cut it out staying well away from the outline you drew so you can later "work down" the shape to what you like. I used 3000 grade aluminum 3/8ths tubing that was very easy to bend to match the shape of the coaming around the edges, drilled and pop riveted it to the coaming every 3" or so. I beafed up the tubing where feet will be banging into the side of he coaming during ingress/degress or if someone were to stand on the coaming sides during refueling or wild sex. Did I say that?!
The coaming was one of those jobs that I approached with dread, only to find it was just another example of the joys of building an airplane. You'll do fine.
Mark T