How do I lace the fuselage top?

NC74392

NC74392

New member
Okay you experts- :D

If I put the headliner in before I cover the fuselage I can't lace the top of the fuselage on the stringer.
If I cover and lace the fuselage before I add the headliner, I can't put the headliner in right as far as I can tell.
Is there some technique for lacing the fuselage blind? I noticed when I pulled the fabric off the previous folks had a problem in that they managed to lace the fabric around the trim rod in places. :shock: :roll:
I keep thinking if I had a curved needle that made almost a complete circle, I could lick this problem no sweat. 8) However, all I can find is a curved needle that makes half a circle- certainly not enough to bring the chord back close to the stringer. :?
Along the same line, my fuselage top was only laced about half the length. Is this right? I laced the bottom all the way to the last frame.

One more thing- anyone have a Cruisair or Cruisemaster that has the fuselage SIDES laced up?

Man, I GOTTA get going on this. I really want to finish this Spring. :D

Y'all come see me in Huntspatch (Huntsville, AL).
 
My fabric is not laced to the fusaloge anywhere except the vertical stab. you need to get to work, once you fly a Bellanca nothing else is any fun. :lol: :lol:
 
I should mention the fabric is glued to all the stringers. I fogot that part. The only problem I have with the fabric is at the bottom were we all have our beacon or strob, it moves some. :lol: :lol:
 
My belly beacon is attached to the removable aluminum access cover for the aileron cables under the front floorboard. Sure wish it was a little smaller- it's the size of a grapefruit! Probably came off a DC-3 or something.

Do you know of a strobe beacon that's OK to use on a 14-13-2?
 
So basically I'm worrying about nothing (lacing up the fuselage).

I'd be a little upset if I were flying along and the fabric on top of the fuselage started ballooning off. Might mess up my hair (and pants):D

Maybe I could figure out a way to split the headliner and then reattach it using velcro :?:
 
My strob is below the back floor board. My antenna is mounted to the bottom boot cowl and my Transponder is under my luggage box. I had my antenna and Transponder about 10 inchs apart and when I transmitted it would block out my Transponder. Drove ATC and me nuts untill I figured it out. :lol: :lol:
 
Dave I've been looking for one of thoes great old greatfruit beacons. If you ever want to sell yours let me know, Mark
 
Tell you what- if I go with a different one, it's yours! Ask me again sometime this summer. :D
 
Dave, I just recovered my 14-19. I rib stitched not only the top, but also the bottom, and one line of laces along the vertical stab. I don't know if Bellanca originally riblaced the lower on mine, but later models are and they have the same redline. The bottom was easy. I bought two sizes of curved needles, and neither worked. I had to fashion one from a cut-to-size coat hanger. Sharpen one end, flatten and drill the other. You can bend it into any shape you want. The curve I needed wasn't a constant radius. You really want to get that interior in before you cover. It goes in easier. On the 14-19, the trim system has a torque tube running the length of the top striinger, on one side. I used a washer or two between the tube and stringer in order to provide enough room for the needle to pass between the two. Hope this helps. Tom
 
If you don't put the interior in before you re-cover, It's no problem to do it later. I just did mine and it was easy. Good luck. Mark
 
Tom:

The bottom of mine is stiched as well. It took about 2 days to cover and stitch.

As for the top (I have a torque tube trim too!), I think I'll cover one side and half the top, run my reinforcing tape down the top stringer, and stitch it BEFORE covering the other top half and side. I think this'll work OK.
As for your method, I'm still not clear. Did you make a needle that was curved more at the tip than at the eye? Sort of a constantly diminishing curve?
 
That's right. The radius of the curve was little smaller toward the tip than at the eyelit. And the nice thing is that you can bend that coat hanger wire into any shape you like. Tom
 
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