Mild success with the prop laying against the skirt. I'm down to 1/8" at the widest point (gap between the fuselage and the skirt). In thinking about this I need to get this skirt final trimmed and mounted to show how the shape is riveted vs cleco'd and yes there is likely a difference based on clamping pressure etc. I feel certain I can correct these gaps in the final finishing of the canopy assembly. -I uncleco'd the skirt and Sydney helped me set it aside. -Used a small dremel ball grinder attachment to grind the mandels down on the blind rivets that had them sticking up. -Drilled out the blind rivets. I must have gotten a steel rivet mixed in and that one basically got very hot and spun through the hole. Luckily there were no damage other than a large hole which I prefer anyway. -Removed the canopy from the frame with Mitchel's help -Opened up all of the 5/16 holes to 7/32 on my step drill and deburred the holes with the same bit. -I carefully sanded the hole that melted through to get ride of the bevel of melted plexi that could be a stress riser - I don't know about you but it stressed me out....
Here's the 1/8" gap that I'm fighting with.
Here's the steel rivet that essently melted through the plexi - scarey indeed.
