First step today was to tap the holes in the rollover hoop using the new small T-handle that arrived in the post. Really a Fuselage Kit task but it only took minutes, and there was nothing to photograph.
The main task was fitting the gear legs. Notes in the VAF forum confirm you should not follow the Vans plans. I had not thought to "ease" the undercarriage holes in the main U-channel when I first started on the fuselage. It wasn't too difficult spinning drill bits by hand, just to remove the paint from the holes. Loosely fitting the inboard bracket and getting the bolt though the undercarriage leg was not too difficult. I had much more bother trying to position the steel plate for the outboard bracket, above the gear leg. Also not easy was lining up the U-shaped bottom half of the bracket, as there are a handful of rivets that get in the way. Vans had approved grinding off the forward lower edge of this piece which made the job possible, though not easy. Eventually, I got all the bolts in and tightened up.
Once I got the fuselage off the bench (a couple of days later) I realised there is an inspection hole in the floor which would have made life easier! I couldn't see this with the plane on the bench.
A neighbour had found an Allan key to break apart the nosewheel, so I was able to fit the tube and tyre, then reassemble it.
