Matt's RV-8 Project



Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date:  3-15-2015
Number of Hours:  1.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Third Attempt At Windshield & Metal Bezel - Part 1

Here is the freshly completed, all-new windshield on the RV-8 rebuild project. It took three tries - and three new canopies - but I am happy to report it came out perfect this time! No bulges or pooches on the all-metal bezel over the top and a nearly perfect fit around the back over the sliding part of the canopy. Plexiglass fit around the front over the instrument panel is also nearly perfect and in most places it is so tight you couldn't even slip a piece of paper between the bottom of the glass and the top of the fuselage. The Plexiglass is completely fabricated now and even the screw holes are countersunk. The new metal bezel is also complete. So all that is left is to get the bottom of the new bezel painted along with the new spacers, reassemble, and then do the fiberglass bezel around the front of the windshield. A bit more finish work on the new cowling and wheel pants, then out to the hangar for final assembly and then the test flight!! Yahoo!


When I talk about attempt 1, 2 or 3 in the context above, I'm referring to the number of times I've tried to get the windshield built on THIS particular RV-8 project. The first windshield was nicely cut and fit and I was working on the fiberglass bezel around the front. I got a little overzealous with the sander and sanded through the tape and made a mark in the middle of the windshield. On the second attempt, again, the fit was excellent but while I was countersinking one of the screw holes in the Plexiglass, the tool slipped and put a 3" deep scratch in the middle of the windshield. Which brings us to attempt #3 which is shown above. So, far so good. Fit is perfect. The stress-level on a 3'rd attempt is immearsurable, btw. I've spent more on new canopies than radios. Now to start that pesky fiberglass bezel again...
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Windshield & Metal Bezel

Windshield & Metal Bezel

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Windshield & Metal Bezel

Windshield & Metal Bezel

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Windshield & Metal Bezel

Windshield & Metal Bezel

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