Today, I spent a few hours before the Relay 4 Life Walk to work on the plane. I began by fabricating the upper and lower angles for the C-712. The instructions state to begin with the lower angle and the plans picture the upper angle. The instructions are also very specific to be exact with the #12 hole placement in the lower angle. I apparently did not pay attention to either. I fabricated the upper angle and when drilling the holes, the bit walked ever so slightly. One hole was less than 1/16" off. but it cost me an hour to slightly reshape the C-607 and C-609 to open easily once temporarily bolted into the C-712 angles. I installed the yellow "ball" on the canopy release handle. The instructions advise to use a #16 and a #11 bit. I have neither. I substituted an 11/64" and a #12 and it worked like a charm as the screw is self-tapping in the plastic. I dimpled the holes in the fuse in preparation for riveting the assembly to the fuselage. I tried to prime the pieces using a rattle can, but the can gave up the ghost halfway through. I moved on to the aft latch weldment. I inserted the weldment into the C-611 bushings and clamped them into place. I drilled through the F-705 bulkhead holes with a #30 bit to mark the holes in the bushings. I then removed the assembly and drilled the bushings to #10 on the drill press and drilled the bulkhead to #12. I bolted the assembly into place. I picked up some more paint after the cancer walk and finished spraying the parts in the dark. The instructions also call for the use of UHMW tape on the surfaces of the C-712. I didn't have any of that either, so I picked up what I hope is similar tape while purchasing paint. I am Googling the stuff to see if it is the same before I apply it and rivet the pieces permanently to the fuselage.
