Other Stuff-NEW!
6/29/2008
Today I got an early start (for a Sunday) at 8am right after Brit left for training for the day. I started by filing a little off the right canopy hinge horn. The area marked for trimming would've interfered with the top skin and made a nice bump when the canopy opened for the first time.
Then I put the canopy frame back on the fuselage, and peeled the masking tape off the frame skin.
Then the canopy was cleco'd back on the frame. Painting the inside of the glass gives a super gloss look on the outside. This will not be seen in the end, but it looks great now!
The aft portion of the canopy that was painted will be a 'wait and see' kinda thing. It might scratch easily and I'll have to figure something else out. For now, it looks freakin' awesome!
A couple shots for posterity...
That's as far as I am gonna go on the tip up portion for now. It's time to fit the rear window.
I brought it down from the storage room, and laid it on the fuselage, roughly in position, then clamped it on the centerline on the rollbar (best I could get it anyway). I peeled the protective plastic back enough to mark a "DO NOT CUT" line for the initial trim.
With the initial trim done (and several successive iterations), I was able to fit the glass under the skin, and clamp it down to mark the line along the skin. It was actually pretty close to fitting the centerline on the rollbar, which really surprised me. Some light trimming was still in order with the belt sander though.
I marked another line one inch down from the window/skin line for the final cut line, and after one more session with the cutoff wheel, this is the finished shape of the rear window. I am free of cutting plexi!!! All that was left at this point, was to fit the window the fuselage to check the fit with the front canopy.
The fit was nearly perfect, but I did have to use the belt sander to trim the bottom corners of the rear window a little bit to get a nice, clean fit. This was a really cool moment!
I think I'm done with trimming and sanding at this point, so I finished the front edge of the rear window to 600 grit. If there's anything left after drilling holes and clecoing it in, it'll be minor. The window fits so nice and snug on the rollbar and the aft skin, there should be no movement when drilling.
I kept all the scraps of plexi since I started the canopy, and had to throw 'em in a pile for a pic. Doesn't look like much in the picture, but there really is a lot of material that is removed to get it all to fit right.
Next is drilling the rear window.
6.5 hours