Here is the first test model being built. You start by joining each of the base plates together...
Keep them flat while they are gluing with a few weights
Then join them to the front keel...
Here's the first mistake I found - I drew the middle base about 1/4" too short, which also made a mess of the front former. Luckily, we can just add a bit of scrap balsa...
Do the same for the front former and the front braces.
Check the former heights are the same by placing the hull upside down. While you are here, add the rear keel, and glue the botton formers to the botton of the base.
Assemble the middle and rear former, seperated by the rear braces...
and glue them onto the base.
If everything is OK, add the front keel top, and try out the superstructure sides. Don't glue them to the formers yet - we need a bit of access to the hull first...
..but you can glue the cross pieces to the superstructure to see what it will look like...
At this point I find out that the hull former at the rear of the front superstructure is 1/8" out of position - I have obviously taken a back line to be a front line.... still, it's a convenient place for a ledge...
Now for the propeller...
The top three items are the original EeZeBilt propellers, the Middle two items are the Graupner propeller, and the bottom two are the Hobbies one.
The Graupner is much nicer, but I picked the Hobbies because I wanted a long tube. The shaft is a thin piece of bent wire - but I can replace that with some 2mm piano wire...
..and here it is being epoxied in...
On top I put a 'quick-change' motor mount in, because I will be experimenting with different motors...
