Starting the Wheel Pants.

I made some special off-plans templates for the wheel pants.  I am attempting to create pressure recovery type pants, but of course, the big challenge is adapting PR pants to the wing attachment. It was wet, raining and cold in the hangar, so we set up shop in the nearby T-hangar pilot's lounge.

Here, we are establishing the cutting pattern to make the two wheel pants.  There is both a left and a right pant, they are slightly different.

After the first core is cut, it left an interesting block of foam. Here the second pant is ready for hot wiring. They turned out pretty well.  By the way, that's a 2008 AirVenture poster in the background, featuring the Aeroshell cow, Amoolia. The poster is autographed by famous race pilot and altitude record setter, Bruce Bohannon.

Catching up

A lot has transpired since my last update.  Progress is slower than hoped, but we did take a month's worth of vacations already this year.

Here is what my Quickie looks like right now. Sad.

Now that the main portion of the canard is done, it's time to attach the elevators.  This was pretty tricky, since I didn't have the right jigging template available. Pat is helping me keep lined up. The phenolic bearing blocks are attached with 2 BID.

Now it's time to install the slot cores. This is done by using the elevators to establish the position. I stuffed shop towels under the elevators to help exert pressure.  I used micro slurry as the interface, but wonder if pour in foam might be better.

Slot cores are now sanded smooth, getting ready for glassing.

A slot is routed out for the brake lines, then covered with dry micro.  I'll do the same thing on the opposite side for the pitot and AOA lines.

I discovered a few voids in the slot core/spar joint, so I dug it out, roughed up the spar, and filled it with two-part foam.

Here is the garage that I was able to use while building the canard.  It was a great help in the cold months, but now it's time to move back to my hangar.

Finally!

 Plastic Explosive - meet your new canard!

Work starts right-away.  Two lines are routed for the pitot and the Angle of Attack indicator.