Bottom Skin issue..

My bottom skin looks different around the access panel than what I see on a couple other Cruzer builders bottom skins... I do not have predrilled holes for the small Z angles that run span wise between the longeron and the access panel edge z angle, and I have the predrilled holes running along the front of the access panel as well as the flap motor mount installs in the center of the access panel on the right side. Also, the size of the panel seems smaller like the STOL hole versus the Cruzer. 

Can someone confirm I actually have the Cruzer bottom skin and not the STOL bottom? 

There is still no one available at Zenith to answer this for me as they were all at Sun n Fun.

I've attached a shot of my access panel facing up, as well as a screenshot of RC Joe doing his Cruzer bottom skin. Completely different...

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Permalink Reply by David Hall on April 11, 2022 at 5:48pm

Yours looks similar to my Cruzer which is quite different than RC Joe's.  When I picked up my kit in 2020 they told me that I had the 5th edition, and there were changes to the inside of the fuselage.

I believe my opening was smaller than previous versions.  I just checked and the opening in my fuselage is 400 mm by 500 mm.

I attached a photo, its upside down when I open it but I don't know how to flip it.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Klop on April 11, 2022 at 6:05pm

Hey David, thanks for posting that. You're right, it is significantly different than RC Joes but yours looks like mine. The flap motor mount is in the center and there is the full width part F33-1 that mounts directly in front of the access hole. You also do not have any short Z or L angles between the access hole and the longerons.

Thanks again, I'll get back to building now...  

Permalink Reply by Peter Eiberger on April 14, 2022 at 7:26pm

I have a 2021 kit and the access panel is substantially farther back than what yours is

Permalink Reply by David Hall on April 15, 2022 at 4:01pm

This is interesting.  I am located in Ontario Canada, and purchased my kit from Zenair in Canada ( in 2020) , and I can see that Dan is from BC Canada,  so it looks like Zenair is selling different kits than from Zenith, or there was a delay if they were changing over to what I received from Zenair.  Until I saw Dan's email, all the pictures I saw on line were different than mine so I was beginning to wonder if I had a unique kit.  

My original drawings showed your baggage bottom (500 x 500 opening) but when I got the Fuselage kit I recieved drawings showing the new, modified parts, and my baggage bottom opening is 400 x 500mm which is a tight squeeze.

The main change was that the elevator tube and bell crank were eliminated and the elevator cables go right to the Yoke.  I was told that this method is similar to the CH650.  I am not sure if this will improve the issue that causes some to "divorce the elevator cable.  The baggage bottom also looks quite different.

Attached are two photos, my baggage area from the inside ( its not a complete picture because I have added 5 inch high storage compartments on the bottom, and a photo of the upgraded elevator cable routing from the drawing. 

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