Brief Description: Canopy Skirt 2 - Fitting and drilling
FITTING
The plans have you drill from aft -> forward. The way that worked for me after looking at advice on VAF Forum and seeing the problems in front of me was as follows:
* Place the trimmed skirt in position with the aft section flush with the fuselage and just hugging the aft part of the canopy (do not worry about a great fit - just hugging). * At the same time move the skirt so that the transition point from frame to canopy locks into position on the aircraft frame/canopy. Hold/tape in position. * Using the plans hole locator (#40 rivet NOT #30 as per plans) and pressing into the previous locked position/aft section flush/hugged I drilled the bottom hole of the aft rib "E". Clecod then did the same for "D". I did this on my own and am pleased with the result but two people would make this bit easier. * With two clecos and tape holding the skirt I previously marked the canopy handle hole reference lines on some masking tape and projected these onto the skirt (see photo), I then shone a torch through the hole to confirm my marks and then removed skirt and drilled to final size (small amount of filing needed) I then drilled the bottom of rib "C". * Then I drilled all the bottom frame holes. *The rib holes were OK with the plans template but not as good as hole locator holes used on "C". * When it came to the sloping rib at the back my template was useless and I had to fill the holes so I made a longer hole locator - 11" long and first AN470AD4-4 rivet is 9 1/8" from end - this worked a treat and I will use it for all the other non-bottom holes on the right hand side.. * Cut the notch at the back to enable the aft section to lay flat on the canopy and JUST clear the track - trim aft section as required - the plan later will be to butt joint the aft section at the centre position of the track.
