Fit the support centre bracket between main plates. This has doubler plates that have been pre glued to the inside faces.

Check alignment using fixed rigid between holes .. this is key so that the aileron movement of the torque rod is smooth axially.

Fit Torque tube and ensure ease of aileron movement and no end float

Confirm hinge washers

I had a slight problem with one of the brackets moving fractionally when I came to remove the temporary rivets and pre glue them onto the torque rod. The plan guidance says you may need to slightly widen a hole to get smooth movement and a minute amount of filing of the centre bracket leaves the movement finger light !

This is shaped and etched and spaced before applying rivet fixing on central spindle.

The intermediate horn sits between the seat rails and is positioned to pickup the ‘tail end’ of the elevator interconnecting rod (yet to be completed) that runs through the centre (internal) of the control torque tube.

The exhaust duct is shaped from similar guage stainless steel sheeting as the bulkhead. Once shaped it has small flanges folded at the ‘leading edge’ to accept the mounting rivets.

The seat rails fit between various key parts on the body. They require mounting brackets to be profiled to clear rivet heads and the support members profiled to fit.

Rudder pedals are mounted on plates that sit just above the footwells.

The support brackets are drilled and shaped and then etch primed ready

Each pedal is bushed and the rivets pick up the main cross beams of the aircraft. The pedals are provided pre welded but need rubbing down, etch priming and then 3 coats of Hammerite.

Engine bulkhead is cut from a sheet steel using the provided template…. note the indent duct which is for an add on folded exhaust section.

I was not looking forward to this step .. could end up looking a mess if you get it wrong ! and great if you get it right !

Used the template and heavy cutters and big gloves – cut edges double as Stanley knives .. only sharper

Then used the template to align centre vertical and cross check with copius measuring. Then overlayed template to nose and existing engine bolts to get these centre punched and then drilled … top two were spot on.

Next step is the fold in the bulkhead and top pilot holes before positioning to pick up lower engine bolts.

Aileron ribs are CNC pre (part) cut. Thicker ones are 6mm ply and need rubbing down for prep to test fit to aileron spar

Tucked up above my garage as the Force 6 outside winds its way up to  Force 8 its quite cosy cutting out ribs and bracing sections. Supposed to be nipping to Guernsey tomorrow in a Cherokee Six but forecast F7 Northerly’s on an E/W runway is not conducive to keeping the legs straight !

Footrests are largely pre folded metal but require  little shaping to fit between body stringers

Had to loosen and move the two centre bracing bars that were factory fitted so you can get a drill square onto the rear of the footrest and drill into longerons. The bars moved out and then relocated with fresh duralac to fit snugly again.

Front ones next