Back to Finishing Canopy

 So I am back to the canopy again. I did not do the side skirts a year and a half ago when I was working the canopy because I thought they would be prone to damage during storage.

So I am doing the side skirts now. I am following a friend's method  The side skirts will be the Van's aluminum that are sika-flexed to the canopy and riveted to the canopy frame. I am going to paint the side skirts white to match the canopy frame. I think I found a Jet flex paint that matches the Van's white.

The rear skirt will be fiber glassed and sika-flex bonded to the canopy. (Although my canopy fit is good enough for a metal skirt, I presently have no rivets or screw holes in the plexiglass, and I do not want to add screw holes to hold the metal rear skirt)

The windscreen will be fitted last. I still have to paint the glare shield and the middle brace a light grey before installing the wind screen.

 

 

Finishing Up Under Panel

 While waiting to paint the dashboard, i was finishing up stuff under the panel. I decided to make a j bend in the vent tubing to keep the rain out. Not sure if it helps or not, but what the heck, I had the extra tubing anyway.

 

 

Last Structural Panel Installed

 We installed the last structural panel this weekend; The forward fuselage top panel.

Now it is on to canopy fiber glassing, cowl
and the gear.

Seats

 I am calling the seats done. I still have to do some of the of the interior stitching but haven't figured out a better way than my first try.
Maybe good enough for first flight. Sure beats pillows.

Since this picture was taken i re did the one seat with the stitching. I think I will leave the interior stitching off so that I can remove the foam and wash the seat covers after the first flight.