Daily Archives: 29/07/2019

Canopy, Wing Join Covers, Wing Walk Anti-Slip Tape

Monday 29th July 2019

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Music: None now I’m out of my workshop 😦

There’s still a few jobs to do before final sign off hopefully next week. I’ve moved G-MLSY out of the workshop but I’m still using it for my tools. It’s now housed in one of the mid sized hangers until I finish when it’ll be moved to the main hanger.

After the success of the first engine run on Friday I need to adjust and secure the canopy, fit the wing walk anti-slip tapes and fit the wing join covers.

The canopy was temporarily fitted for the engine test so I adjusted the canopy catches and secured the hinge bolts.
Next up is sticking the wing walk anti-slip tapes onto the wing root. The area is thoroughly cleaned and degreased to ensure they stick properly. They need to be straight and equally spaced otherwise it’ll look awful.
Each tape is carefully placed in position and the backing paper is removed slowly to ensure that it’s parallel with the first tape.
The finished job looks quite good.

The Bristell’s wings attach to a wing root stub that protrudes from the side of the aircraft. The way the wing joins means that there is a small gap that needs to be covered. A metal joint strip is used which is attached at both ends and pulled together with springs. A couple of Rivnuts are installed on the top of the wing and one end is secured…
… the strip is fitted round the front od the leading edge and the springs are added to pull and tension the strip.
Finally a couple of Rivnuts are installed on the trailing edge and the joining strip is fixed into position.
Quite pleased with final result. It’s important to ensure there is a bit of play in the fixing holes otherwise the strip may buckle and it won’t be flat on the wing.
G-MLSY in it’s new home for now. Just the spats to fit now and then the external features of the aircraft will be complete.