Date:	2-27-2016
Number of Hours:	4.20
Brief Description:	Ballast Compartment
Drilled and dremelled out Ballast Hatch window. Spent more time thinking about the bulkheads within the nose bowl. Decide that rather than using foam I will make a series of NG-31 templates from 1/8" MDF, edging toward an accurate profile. THEN cut out the foam. I want a close fit and no gaps. I expect I will only need 1 x 600ml and 1 x 375ml in service, and I can put extra aft of F-0 for the first flights. MUCH easier to fit two cans in the Ballast Compartment, leaving more room for the submerged pitot and a single NG-32 on the centerline. Glued a couple of cans where two will fit, and checked clearance through hatch. Angled a bit forward they fit fine, and will be much easier to manipulate. Glued some foam blocks on the inside of the nose bowl, to locate the NG-31 templates. Cut one rough, then stick plasticine around the edges to define the refined shape. Cut another template and trimmed a bit then roughed out holes for the cans. Glued bits of MDF around 1 can until it looks good, and made another template. Then wonder how I will support the bottom of the can, the nose bowl probably won't cope on its own. Found a beer bottle of about the right shape, taped it and layed up a series of UNI tapes to see what it looks like, and if I can get the bottle out. If not had a subsequent idea, I could shape some wing foam into a plug on the lathe and layup the bottom surface of NG-31 over it, then hog out the foam. Melted some lead out of the 600ml can I filled as a test, set in a ringbolt and refilled it. Also filled a 375ml can with another ringbolt. Need one more of each at some point, but that will do for the moment. Had I mentioned that the pre-fab nose bowl is not worth the hassle? If I wasn't really happy with the Ballast Hatch I would throw it away.