The longerons in the spruce kit are 14' long, so why not use all of that to make the fuselage wider, that's what I did. Actually, mine were bought loose from Wicks and actually came out to 14' - 1 1/2". I've also built the fuselage a little bit differently, first the top (upside down), then the bottom on top of it with 4 simple jigs (firewall, standard dim's of 36" (top) & 31 - 3/4" (bottom) but 19" deep; station "D" dim's, 42 - 1/2" (top) & 38 - 1/4" (bottom) for width & 24" deep; station "H" dim's, 46" (top) & 41" (bottom) &23" deep; and tailpost at 12" deep instead of 11") and then tied the two together with the side stringers. Advantages, no "banana boat" and less stress on everything but the longerons since the skins are added after all of the above; disadvantages, all of the side stringers need to be fitted in 3 dimensions at both ends. Also I've added 2 - 1/2" to the front (i.e. 8" / 9" & 10" bays) and a 14" bay to the rear.
This may sound complicated but I simply needed blocks on the outside of the top longerons at the firewall and tail and on the inside at "H" and let the 5/8" sq. spruce take a fair curve. I then glued in the doublers, top stringers & all their gussets. The jigs at "D" & "H" were simple 1" x 2" fir posts with triangular braces to support a horizontal support at "D" (23 - 3/8" for the longeron to rest on top of) and 2 vertical supports at "H" (39 - 3/4" outside dim's). The lower engine support and compression brace took care of the firewall positioning and the tailpost took care of the rear. All I had to do was lay the lower longerons on top of the "D" support and pull them in / down using "spanish windlasses to meet the other supports. again, the longerons took a fair curve and I just added all of the bottom stringers & their gussets and then tied the top & bottom together with the side stringers & gussets. Last step was to add the bottom skin and side skins. Even if you stay with the standard dim's. otherwise, you can still make the boat as wide as you want, but I'd keep it inside the width of a standard piece of plywood, both for the build table & the bottom skin. Allen G. Wiesner KR-2SS S/N 1118 T/D / CorvAIR 65 Franklin Street Ansonia, CT 06401-1240 203-732-0508 "It ain't over until the fat lady sings". ________________________________ >From what I have read the cockpit is 36 inches wide for the KR2. I am >interested >in this plane for 2 and would like any feedback on comfort for 2. I notice >other >>cockpits are wider but like the KR design most. Any input would be >appreciated.
