November 5, 2006 - Forward Canopy Frame
|
|
My shop was out of hand. My workbench was completely filled with
parts, tools, trash and aluminum dust. The project can seem
overwhelming at such times. But I always find that cleaning up the
shop calms you down, the panic goes away, and you can resume the steady
progress on the project.
I havn't taken a picture of the shop in awhile so here it is, all nice
and clean. |
|
 |
|
|
Back to the forward canopy frame area. I noticed the the frame
goosenecks were binding the center subpanel, so I marked an area to trim
at the bottom of the slot.
|
|
 |
|
|
It was tough to get the goosenecks between the blocks the first couple of
times. |
|
 |
|
|
The canopy frame is inserted into the blocks for the first time.
|
|
 |
|
| Next step was to drill the canopy
skin to the canopy frame, using the skin as a template. The canopy
frame holes on the leading edge were already drilled so I just clecoed the
skin on. I marked a black line down the center of the canopy
frame trailing-edge tube, which I'd be able to see through the skin holes.
I drilled the first trailing-edge holes in the center by myself with no
problem, but it was a two-person job to do the rest of the holes -- one to
pull the skin and canopy frame so that the black line was in the center of
the hole, and the second person to drill. Lynnette came down in the
shop and drilled while I held the pieces. |
|
 |
|
| I primed the side-latch parts as
well as the flap-motor housing sides. |
|
 |
|
| I read all the posts I could about
what paint to use for the interior. A number of people had said good
things about Rustoleum "Hammered" paint. This appealed to me since it
was simple (rattle can), inexpensive, but looked good. I bought a can
of "Hammered" silver-grey it at Home Depot. I tried it out on this
baggage area side panel. It came out perfect! I'll be going with
the Rustoleum Hammered Silver-Grey for my interior.
I've got a little problem though. My fuselage is in the basement.
I really don't want to paint in my basement, and have paint fumes wafting
through the house. I think what I'll do is try and delay painting the
interior until the spring, when I move the fuse out of the basement and into
the garage for engine-mounting. It'll be more work than if I painted
now, because I'll have to remove everything, then put it back in. But
that's the way it goes. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|