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Kupe's Zodiac 650B
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Date:  6-6-2014
Number of Hours:  2.50
Manual Reference:  6-C-1
Brief Description:  Start Forward Top Skin

Started work on the forward top skin whch is essential for eventually fitting the canopy. This section of the build begins with the instrument panel which was temporarily installed earlier in the fuselage build. The instrument panel doesn't extend all the way to the sides of the airplane (like the aft bulkheads do, for example), but instead it is cut off inboard of the side rails to make room for the front-pivoting bubble canopy. A small triangular gusset is used to secure the bottom of the instrument panel to the side rails. The panel side angles I fitted today perform 3 functions: They

1. secure the instument panel sides to keep it vertical
2. provide a vertical shape to the nose in order to accommodate the canopy side rails when they are raised and lowered
3. secure the instrument panel to the firewall.
4. serve as an attachment face for the forward top skin.

After getting the panel side angles in place, I fitted and installed the forward top skin to the top of the instrument panel and firewall. I plan to make this piece removable by attaching it with screws (vice rivets). I'm not entirely pleased with my fitting efforts on this, although it seems perfectly serviceable, so I re-ordered another forward top skin to improve the fit.
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Instrument panel side angles fitted and drilled out.

Instrument panel side angles fitted and drilled out.

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Forward top skin fitted and drilled with pilot holes.

Forward top skin fitted and drilled with pilot holes.

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From the cockpit side showing the instrument panel and forward top skin.

From the cockpit side showing the instrument panel and forward top skin.

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