Removable panel and glare shield

After lots of nutplates, the panel and glare shield (and tank) will now be removable, which may become very handy later on.

Noticed the edge of the glare shield ends in a sharp curved edge. Not something I would like to bang my forehead into in case of an off field landing. Have to think of some padding or something.

Wheels and glare shield fixings

Mounted the wheels. It required 6 mm extra of shimming by using one 3 mm washer on each side in addition to the dust covers. Without the washer on the inside, the brake pads would lock the wheel, even when pushed all the way in, and without both of them the lock pin wont engage the nut. Strange. I used Biltema wheel bearing grease and Biltema Brake cylinder paste.

Started with the mods from Airward for glareshield, tank, windshield and panel removal. There will be some refitting of angles and stuff to get all those screws in correct places. Not too much, but getting the kit earlier would be easier.

   

Wheel pants

With all the holes in correct place, the pants were painted. They probably need another coat.

Wheel pants

Finished the wheel pants. Lots of adjustments needed. The screw on the outer side is a bit tricky. That single screw is what angles the pants so they stay parallel with the wheels in two planes (roll and yaw). I got the "roll" correct, but the yaw still need some adjustment. I have to make another hole and fill up the first one.

They will be painted gray.

Wheel pants

Did the cut out on the wheel pants. Much more than is indicated on the drawing needs to be cut out to make them fit. Then I put some gelcoat putty on the seams.

The Aveo Vega also arrived. It's a landing/taxi light, LED and tiny. It will be mounted beneath the wing.

Wheels and brakes and pants

Started to mount the wheels and brakes and pants.

Main landing gear

Started to bolt on the main lading gear. There were too few bolts and only 6 nuts (should be 10). Some of the nuts are also extremely tight. Have to order more together with some other hardware and main light.

Hoist

Bought a hoist so I can move the fuselage around

Painted the aft fuselage underside

While am at it. Have to rivet it on later.

Fuselage and horizontal stab

The horizontal stab is no finished. Polished alu and orange on the upside and gray and orange on the under side. Painted the fuselage on the underside.

Orange on the horizontal tail

Orange on the leading edge, in the same manner as the vertical tail. The wings will also have these colors. The vertical tail, as well as the wings have gray paint (RAL 7035) on the underside to better withstand the dirt and mud. The over-side is polished aluminium and orange (RAL 2000).

Grade C on right fuselage

One pass of grade C

F9 on right fuselage

Pass 1 and 2 on right hand fuselage. Actually 3 at some places. Also finished left with C.

2 passes of F9 on left fuselage

This is what 2 passes of F9 looks like. There will be orange trims and the whole underside of the fuselage will be gray (3 in 1 RAL 7035). I have seen some do the F9 polishing on the plates before assembly. That might be a good idea, particularly on the underside of the wing/fuselage. I'm not totally convinced, because curved surfaces are much easier to polish than straight surfaces.

According to "David A" at sonexbuilders.net, polishing is like: The way I tell when it is sufficiently polished is when the hazy image of Joe cool pilot becomes a sharp clear image of an old fart.

Polishing

Polishing the fuselage. 1 round of F9 first.

Paint

Painted the underside of the elevator and horizontal stab.

Painting

On the underside of the fuselage, tail and mid wing, there will be light gray (RAL 7035). Started painting the flaps and the lower part of the rudder.

Polishing and paint

The vertical fin painted, and started polishing the fuselage.

Painting vertical fin

Using 3 in 1 and painting the vertical fin yellow-orange, or RAL 2000 to be more specific. The whole plane will be a mix of polished alu, orange and grey.

The Power Coat 3 in 1 is an industrial paint based on modified polyester. I have used it for several things, and it is equally strong as the polyurethane I used in the cockpit. Really easy to use, and the surface is matt-ish.   

Grade C, priming and colors

All tail surfaces and moving surfaces ready for a bit of color.

More grade C

Getting shinier and shinier.

Polishing grade C

Continued polishing with grade C.

Polishing

While waiting for new heads, I started polishing. Actually quite cool, but takes a loooong time, and lots of work. I'm going to paint everything underneath with 3 in 1 paint, one coat.

According to "David A" at sonexbuilders.net, polishing is like: The way I tell when it is sufficiently polished is when the hazy image of Joe cool pilot becomes a sharp clear image of an old fart.