Hatch Covers

HUGE shout out to Zach Chase.  Thank you for the guidance!

I was struggling with these darn covers.  Could NOT get them to line up.  After hours of head scratching, I finally figured I needed to cut the lower cover outboard edge.  That was the ONLY way to get them to fit correctly... but before doing so, I needed to talk to Zach.

As always, Zach is the master and so generous with his time and advice.

He said these covers to NOT fit well, and the only way is to cut them.  He is even more aggressive that I was planning.  Cut the vertical piece on the lower hatch cover at the outboard edge.  Hold it in place with tape or popsicle sticks (with hot glue).  Use a mixture of resin, cabo until its mayonnaise consistency, and add micro balloons until its like peanut butter.  Relatively strong, yet sandable.

So I did.  Port cover aft edge is bonded in place.  While it was drying, started fitting the starboard cover.  The 2nd one is always easier than the first.

Once the trailing edge has cured I can shape it to match the flaps.  It's slightly too long.

41 days until paint shop booking.

Things to get done:

1. Finish hatch covers
2. Finish wing tips
3. Finish rudder base fairing
4. Finish horizontal stab fairings
5. Finish fuselage pockets for flap tracks (when wings folded)
6. Elevator and trim tab hinge keepers
7. Strut fairings
8. Flap track fairings

Lots to do... grateful for the challenge.