Not much progress today. I attempted to mount the control column in the fuselage and after lots of fiddling with the rod ends it still binds in roll. I remembered this being a problem for at least one builder so I didn't waste alot of time on it and since it was 4F this morning, it didn't hurt my feeling to call it quits early. In looking at the research people have 1) opened up the weldments slightly that attach to the rod end so they don't bind, 2) folks have ovaled out the holes that attach the F837 rear still rod end support plate and 3) shimmed the front rod end support plate. I'll try 1 and 3 first and do 3 as a last resort next session.
The control column is loosely mounted - view from the rear
View from the front - the control column is the light grey contraption in the center.