Chapter 7 - Step 4 - Contouring the Sides

August 18, 2005
Continued work over the last couple days, I have continued cleaning up the bottom layups but more importantly, continuing on in the work that needs to be done to see the side layups done this weekend and I think I have accomplished it.

I started by cutting out the area forward of F-28 for the canard installation later. Once this was done I could contour the sides. I could stop here I am sure but I am not 100% sure that I am totally happy with the contour. It meets the templates but I do not taper toward the back as much as the plans call for. I'll do a bit if surfing and see how some of the other builders did it and if a change needs to be made It's just a bit of sanding foam which is not terribly time consuming if you are sure of where you are trying to go and are careful you don't go too far.

Once that was done it was time to go back to the fuel site gauges. I carved the foam out per plans knowing that I am going to put in the Vance Atkinson gauges that are in my parts inventory. This went pretty easy. I was amazed in both tasks how fast the second side went once you have done it once.

I took some pictures of all that (below). I cleaned everything up and vacuumed for the layups this weekend. I have plans for one side on Saturday and the other on Sunday. I figure they are about 2.5-3 hours each. I'll update with the actual time of each when I am complete with them.