So after all the cross tubes were fitted and tacked in place it was time to start working on the diagonal tubes. During this step it is very important to make sure that each station is square by measuring diagonally at each station and making adjustments with a bar or pipe clamp or ratchet strap to get them exactly the same. I started at station 78 and worked back from the tail squaring one station at a time until I got to the tail. I did the bottom first then the top and then moved to the next station. When you put in the diagonal tube at each station it locks it where it is at. That is why it is very important to make sure it is exactly square. After I was done with the top and bottom of all of the stations I went back starting at station 78 and started fitting and locking in each diagonal that goes from the top longeron to the bottom longeron, measuring, adjusting and squaring as I went towards the tail. I got all of them fitted, squared and tacked in today. It is amazing how rigid the frame is when it is just tacked together. Tomorrow I have to go to Discount Steel or Garelick Steel to pick up some tubing to put together a fuselage rotisserie to make it easier to rotate the fuselage for welding. I also have to pick up some 2 x 4 's to place in between each station to slightly bow out the upper and lower longerons before welding.
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