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ED HAGEDORN'S KIT-BUILD Douglas C-47 Page 2
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Currently I have the fuselage framed and sheeted and am building the wing.  I will step through the process (as long as I have a picture).  The first thing to build is the stabilizer.  It is fully built up and sheeted. For the first experience with a Topflite kit, I am very impressed.  The directions step right thru EVERYTHING.  Very builder-friendly so far... I have already spent about 10 times longer building this stabilizer as any  other in my life, it is very intricate!
The fin and rudder were a huge pain.  Topflite gives you two options for building the rudder,  Scale or Sport.  The Sport rudder just connects to the fin in one vertical plane.  The Scale rudder is WAY more work, but I just had to do it.  I think it turned out just great and am glad I did it!
The next step is to build the top of the frame and connect the tail section.  I think it was really ingenious for Topflite to cut the fuse right down the middle and build it flat on the board, then flip it over and build the bottom.  It is starting to look like an airplane.  Still a bit too soon to set it on the wing and imagine that it is done!
The next step after the fuse top is framed is to put the sheeting on.  This took a fair amount of time due to its rounded shape. I would glue the sheeting along its base.  I would then spray water on it and hold it on place with rubber bands until the sheeting took the shape of the frame.   Then gluing was easy.
The farthest pieces aft were the most challenging since the piece goes from concave to convex (at the tail cone), it took a lot of water and patience.
Here are a few shots of the fuse completely framed.  The cockpit and tail cone are plastic.  This is much easier for installation,  not so sure how I'm going to finish them though...
The nose cone is shaped and installed and the cracks are filled here,  just about ready to start on the wing.  Flipping through the manual, it looks like the wing is about 3/4 of the project!!!
One final shot of the fuselage filled and sanded.
For the windows, the kit comes with stickers.  I just don't think I can bring myself to do the stickers, so I am going to use a piece of plastic window mtl glued on the inside of the fiberglass covering (yet to come).  I have cut the window holes approx 1/4" larger than the dimensions of the window.  My plan is that when I fiberglass the fuselage, I will have some sort of spacer in the window hole, that will hold the shape of the fuse side. Then once the fiberglass and epoxy are on and dry, I will remove the spacer and then cut the window to the right size.  This will leave a little lip on the inside of the fiberglass that I will be able to glue the window to
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