Canopy, Engine and Paint - a busy week

This week the engine arrived from Vans. I drove to pick it up at the shipper because I didn't want to wait for them all day. The next day I couldn't wait to tear into the crate so I did the inventory and all parts were present. The engine looks sweet and the kit contains much more than I thought it would. I needed to get the engine kit here because while reading ahead for the cowl I noted there were parts that would go inside and the directions warned not to sand the cowl - leave it translucent so that you will be able to see through it to mount the cooling baffles. Once the cowl is finished the fuselage can go to paint.

The wings are in the hanger now along with the tail feathers and assorted stuff. The paint looks really nice. Everyone was commenting on the colors we used. It was always going to be blue and white and we were walking past the paint and Jaun picked up a can of gold and said what about this. We looked at the sample in the light and I said go for it. We pretty much made up the scheme and colors on the fly. I generally knew what I wanted and Jaun knocked it out of the park.

The canopy fiber glass is all trimmed out and sanded down. I have the first of what will be 5 coats of epoxy drying now. I'm really pleased with how it came out. It was a great part to build.

The engine crate took up the whole truck bed.

I've had this number reserved for a couple years now. Hope the FAA didn't give it away to someone else.

The paint really pops in the sun.

Pretty parts.

Getting help moving this stuff into the hanger.

The colors and scheme are perfect.

The Rotax 912 soon to be mounted.

Last shot of the canopy glass before it gets trimmed out.

After trimming. It came out great.