N114KB Project Updates

Finish, canopy continued…

Canopy fairing area filled, taped, and masked for the layup.

Fiberglass cutting about to commence.

Fiberglass cutting underway. All the straight pieces are done and the material is about to be turned 90-degrees to cut the curved plies on the bias.

All pieces (including peel ply) are ready to go.

Plies A and D, having had their dyed resin applied, are sandwiched between layers of plastic wrap and ready to be trimmed to their final dimensions.

Initial layup layer (plies A & D) applied. The canopy fairing is underway!

No photos of intermediate steps, unfortunately, but I was too occupied for photography.

Here, the peel ply has been applied to the layup and will set up overnight.

Finish, canopy progress

Aft fairing line measured and taped.

Side templates cut out from full-size pattern.

Left side template taped in place.

Right side template taped in place.

Left outboard forward fairing line drawn on canopy skin.

Right outboard forward fairing line drawn on canopy skin.

Fairing area masked with double-layer of electrical tape and backed with masking tape.

Fairing area masked with double-layer of electrical tape and backed with masking tape.

Fairing area sanded with 80-grit and almost ready for canopy clips & void filler.

Finish, seats under assembly

Seatback assembly painting underway.

Seatback hinge pins ready for installation.

Seatback assemblies fully painted.

As much as I’d like to install them now, I need the room in the fuselage for the many tasks yet remaining in there. Once the seat cushions arrive, I’ll temporarily install the left seatback to test the rudder pedal position I selected (middle). I really (major understatement!) don’t want to change that at this point in the project. So, fingers crossed for the time being.