Decided to rework the skirts. They were still too tight a fit. They overlapped, but only barely, and the canopy required some force to get it all the way down. If I left them like this at the least the paint will wear off after a few closings, and at the worst it will be hard to get the canopy closed and the metal will wear away.
The simplest way to spread the skirts a bit is to insert shims between the skirts and the canopy frame. I found that this was the perfect use for the scrap from the ends of the wing ribs that got cut off way back when. Being a natural pack rat I didn't throw them away at the time. Cut down the crease, then trimmed so as to get flat strips. I just used the sides without the holes. Deburred the edges to facilitate inserting and prevent cut fingers.
Drilled out the lower row of rivets on the skirts. Did not remove the screws holding the skirts to the bubble. Was able to slip the shims in fairly easily. Match drilled through the shims, and dimpled the forward 5 holes to match the existing holes. Reriveted. I'm very happy with the results.
