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Building Integrity
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Date:  3-7-2018
Number of Hours:  4.00
Manual Reference:  ch 25
Brief Description:  Canopy gap seal improvements

So, wow. After sanding down to the carbon fiber on the canopy frame, there was STILL a raised edge. This canopy frame has REALLY moved over the last few years. Very cool that I could remove almost all the filler, but I also noticed that my contour of the forward deck was a bit off and always has been. This meant the need to add filler to bring it up to the canopy frame up front. Based on the gaps I have, I knew I'd have to add filler in other places so this just made it easier to decide that I would allow the canopy to be the mold, and add filler to the fuselage.
Making the canopy a mold was as simple as taping it off and locking it in place. Then, pressing Z-grip into the gaps and letting it cure. After 10 minutes, opening the canopy revealed a perfect build-up of filler that now needed to be perfectly gapped to allow for primer, paint, and 1/16 weather seal. To obtain the correct gap, I began opening it using a thin ruler with 120 grit attached to one side. Later that gap will be further opened using 80 grit and then a stir stick to obtain the desired 3/32 gap.
After a couple more rounds of Z, I spread out a layer of micro on the top of the deck to build it up to match the frame. Tomorrow I should have the majority of the contouring finished and ready for guide coat primer. Glad to see this change happening. That 1/8" lift up front has always bugged me.
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Taped off frame for mold

Taped off frame for mold

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Z-Grip pressed into gaps

Z-Grip pressed into gaps

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New filler closes the gaps

New filler closes the gaps

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