Welding and Materials

[120mm]

So, the "scuttle tube" or "scuttle hoop" is the lateral curved tubing behind and/or in front of the cockpit that lends the body support and shape?

Looking at various build photos, I don't see how it is essential, strength-wise, to the chassis. So would it be possible to leave these off until the body is selected and fitted?

Sorry if that's a dumb question. I've welded up a few Piper Cub fuselages and they have a central core for strength and an outer framework for shape. Am wondering if these are similar structures. With those, I tacked everything together first to make it easier to "try and fit" the rest of the structure, then finish welded using skip welding to keep warpage down.