Outstanding!!
Thanks for this.

One more thing, if you're going to use the chop saw to cut the channel, after the cut is made hold the saw down until the blade stops rotating. This will ensure you don't get any unwanted nicks and the lose end doesn't get away.

I'm going to replace my cross members with the aluminum channel as you are right, turning them over and filling with balsa gives even more functionality. I have a wood shop so cutting the channel could be a small problem. I'll take any and all recommendations. I also needed to change positions now and again so put it on my drawing board and tilted the board some. Helped but still need more movement.
NB
Mike

Mike that looks really good - the rotisserie is a smart addition, may have to update my base to allow that as I've sometimes found it awkward working flat on my fixture.  I like the aluminum crosspieces as well.

Happy building!

Mike

NBAF (new builder assembly fixture) Version 1.2. NB's being version 1.0.
Like so many of others I have a bad back and have trouble leaning over for long periods, so rather than me leaning over the fixture I made my fixture tiltable. I can spin it 360 degrees to what ever position is comfortable letting me work on any side of the model. The frame is 3/4 inch aluminium tubing and is about 7" x 27". It's long enough for my Guillows P-38 when ever I get to building it. The cross pieces are 3/8 inch alum channel from Home Depot. I made the spare parts box so it can slide on the bottom crossbars. The two bolts with the black knobs are the T-Bolts I use for balancing, the t-bolts slip into the channel and the knobs lock them in place. I'm all in for about $100 bucks cdn but I'm thinking it will work well for me. Now all I need to do is build somethin
NB - thanks for the inspiration, I spend more time building stuff for the planes than I do building planes but I enjoy the tinkering
Mike

Wow - I never thought this simple little tool would generate this much attention. I make these tools to fill a need for me and if they can be helpful to others, I'm a very happy guy. I truly cannot get into the making of another one and it is not hard to do. I used stock materials from Lowes and Michaels and the "T" track that I posted the mfg. number, so no magic there, just glued it together and did some cutting and you have one. As to royalties, don't need those, all too happy to help out when ever and where ever I can.
BTW - Outbound shipping from Canada would be about $75.00
Mike

Thanks Bob, but that'd cut way too much into building time!  Besides, I'd have to pay royalties to NewBuilder...

Cheers,

Mike

Here you go, Bargle.  Fuselage horizontal in jig to install the right side formers, then vertical in jig to install the side keels and stringers.  For this fuselage, due to the stepped keel at the nose, it worked best to install the fuselage upside down and do the keels and lower stringers first.  I'll flip the frame to do the topside stringers, then pull it off the jig to get the last stringers above the keel on each side.

For next time I'll replace the 1/2" plywood crosspieces with thinner hardwood crosspieces - that will make it easier to do smaller fuselages.

Cheers,

Mike