The upper wing is supported by interplane struts, one on each side. These are made up ONLY when you have the top wings in place and correctly set for dihedral and sweep and incidence (so no pressure here then !!!)

First thing – ahead of time – is to treat the pipework internally (as I have with all pipework) with Waxoyl to prevent rust etc

What a messy job this is – hey – but like those pretty gloves ! This will all dry off before I get close to in situ build and assembly.

Managed to lose some doubler plates though, must have taken them home to file, emery and etch prime and then bring back .. cant locate them anywhere so I have asked Ivor if he can send me some more in the next box.

March will bring a bit of focus on the sharp end ! Now I have moved the body at an angle I can actually get at it !

The first thing to look at was the cooling cuts supplied in the big box that had the engine in. The large fins on this particular Jabiru 2200 model mean that the cooling should be much better – but if you read all the articles about overheated Jabs you really need to pay attention to the planing.

The ducts are pre-formed and fit quite snugly with the plug lead access surrounded by rubber to prevent chafing (havent pushed the plug leads fully home in the picture below – but lined up to see how tight it will be). Also, prat factor, have labelled all the plug leads so I dont end up with cross overs !

The front view of the shroud shows the small dam that deflects the air down over the back of the rear cylinders rather than just simply hitting the firewall and dissipating I presume (a sort of ram effect as per the front end). The engine also came with rubber strips that will be glued around the front of these shrouds and so seal the joint between shround and top cowling intake holes (yet to be cut !)

With so many bits going on all around the aircraft at the moment its proving tricky to place her in the best position so that I can work on it easily

• Cabane is being worked on off the body – so much easier – final ply plates needed to make up landing planes
• Ailerons still going in – both lower sets in, wind webbed and hinged – still need to cut out ingress to cater for pushrod free play
• Top wings being webbed for aileron (1 to go !) and then hinged up
• 4th and last aileron top ply glued and awaiting aerolite to curve and fit
• Cowls being marked up

Moved the ‘plane at an angle in the barn so that wings still pretty much line up but I can get to engine and nose. Marked up the centre line of the top deck – need to check exactly how this fits to top longerons.

Paul has provided ‘sense check’ instructions for cowl alignment and fitting – so good re-read on ski holiday next week

The cabane gussets are a bit tricky as all the wood slopes around this area. Got them aerolited in place and securely clamped. The sanded the leading and trailing edges to ensure the final material covering doesn’t bump up

Remembered (just !) to etch prime the aileron hinges before fitting into wing recesses

The two lower aileron hinges are all in place and now the finer finishing can take place. The ply gussets that went bon some rime ago (top and bottom) are sanded to make a smooth finish to the trailing edge