Construction continues. The engine cowl took a lot longer than I thought it would because of the complicated shape.

The construction process was basically the same as the fuselage, so I started photographing here. At this point it's ready to have the stringers attached at the corners.


This is done by soaking them in warm water and then bending them into place and holding them down with rubber bands while the glue dryes. for sharper corners, I tryed steaming the wood and managed to bend them a little better.


Here, all of the main striners are attached, and everything is sanded down. I just need a few more to hold the shape around that circular piece in the back.


After the cowl was finished, I put it up against the back of the fuselage and found that the area to be glued together was crooked, so I shimmed it with some thin pieces of balsa...


...and used a jig to hold everything straight while the glue dryed.


And this is where I am now. As you can see I also have the left wing almost completed. I will document the construction of the other wing now that I am sure I have been doing it correctly.


It's a good thing that this craft isn't going to actually fly, but I guess if it was, then I would have made the engine cowl differently anyway. I guess my next update will be the right wing, and then after that the canard, tails/winglets, and finishing. I still haven't decided how, or even if I want to cover it when it's done. I might cover half of it to the centerline, so that the frame-work is still visible on one side when it's displayed.

wow!  you are really good at this!  Cant wait to see the finished product!

Nice work so far........for a static model, its gonna be fine........ 8)

If it was going to fly, you'd have to start trimming away at least half of all that timber.......it looks quite robust . 

Thanks for the tips. I usually use a glue/water solution when covering with tissue, but I just brush it on. I hadn't thought about spraying it.