Joining the front fuselage togetherThe half moons were fitted to the nose for the NLG MB and I decided at the last minute to use the original FF base plates as additional support for the NLGB MB, so a bit more chopping and sanding LOL..
The slots for the airpipes and servo were increased in size and then the plumbing laid in and held in place with masking tape followed by glass cloth and epoxy to ensure that they stay put.!
Followed by a trial fit to check all was well.
So it is time for the big moment to join the halves together, once again I used 90 minute epoxy so I had time to adjust and get things where I wanted, oh dear forgot one important item (thanks DT for the reminder) and that is to sand smooth the mould release marks and fill the big ones AIYO another day behind on schedule still better now than never.
You have “Go for glue...”
At last I have a semi completed nose assembly which I left over night for the slow epoxy to cure.
NLG trial fitTime to check all is well with the NLG
Phew it fits with not a lot spare space, shame the nose wheel does not completely in the cheater hole but I did anticipate that and the retract is not secured so it will be slightly better when secured. I shall return to the NLG later for the steering cables in a short while.
CanopyHow about sorting the canopy sounds a nice easy quick job... oh such a silly man I am...! the latch as designed goes in from the top so a few hefty pulls and out comes canopy latch, foam et all not a good design at all.
What was I saying about a quick job ha-ha, for the hatch latch it should pull against something so I made a small plate to go on top of the latch so it could be secured from inside rather than outside.
A brass tube extension was added to the original shaft to increase the length, when working with hatch latches just put loads of Vaseline on all the moving parts but keeping it off the face that is going to be glued and make sure it continues to move while the glue is drying.
As the latch would now be lower a Lite ply plate was added to the canopy bottom for the latch pin to lock into, it looks a little odd in the picture but edge is rounded to allow the latch pin to slide over rather than jam against when lowering the canopy in place. A spot of paint on the latch pin hold the latch back fit the canopy then release the latch and you have a nice spot where to drill the hole for the pin to engage.
Almost there now just have to tidy the top part up, quite simple a small plate of 1/8” balsa to seal off the original hole and we are back in business...
Make sure that you get the grain the correct way otherwise the plate will not follow the curve of the canopy turtle deck.
So here is the final result of all the work..., a nice fitting canopy tub
Next step is to go back under and sort the steering out....
