Fuselage Fabric - Bottom or Sides First?

[Tomcat]

Hello Everyone,

My S-1 fuselage is ready for fabric - Finally!! Obviously it is a three piece cover job, two side pieces and one bottom piece. Question is, do you cover the bottom first or the sides and why?

For what it's worth I'm using the AirTech process (not that it really matters I don't think) but the manual says cover the sides first and the bottom last. However, I've also read and seen other peoples projects, on this site even, that cover the bottom first.

One advantage I see to covering the bottom first is the overlap seem from the side fabric will be below the lower longeron so less visible.

One advantage I see to covering the sides first is I will be able to access the aft area of the fuselage for installation of the rudder cable exit fairleads, aft turtledeck tape to keep out "Pitts Acne", and those types of things much easier.

So for those of you who have covered your fuselage what did you do and why? Would you change the order in which you did it after you've done it now?

Thanks for the help,

Tom

 

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[cwilliamrose]

 

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[cwilliamrose]

 

[B747Inst]

 

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[Tomcat]

 

[taff]