I started off today by pulling the peel ply on the external 2-ply CF layup on the bottom cowling right side aft/inboard exhaust pipe clearance bump. I then cleaned up the layup a bit.
I then pulled the taped-up cardboard and wood forms from the inside of the CF layup. Here are couple of shots of the inside and outside of those forms.
I then pulled the interior peel ply off the 2-ply CF layup and cleaned all that up a good deal.
I then took a break for a few hours to head out for some face time with some Canardian buddies!
You see, last night while I was at Jess’s house for Thanksgiving dinner I got a call with both Mike Beasley and Marco C. on the line. They both wanted to take a quick scoot in their planes and meet somewhere for lunch, and asked if I was available to meet them today at the New Bern airport. Which I certainly made time for! Jess and I met Mike and Marco at the airport and then we all headed downtown New Bern to walk around a bit and grab lunch. It was great seeing those guys for a few hours before they both headed back home —in different directions: Mike south to Georgia and Marco north to Virginia (Thanks guys… good times!).
Back in the shop for a couple of hours I sanded down the bottom cowling edges around the right side aft/inboard exhaust pipe clearance bump opening with the cured 2-ply CF layup on the exterior side. I cleaned up the fresh layup around the edges and ensured there was a good transition for an internal 1-ply CF layup, which I then knocked out next.
Another shot of the 1-ply CF layup on the interior of the bottom cowling right side aft/inboard exhaust pipe clearance bump.
I then peel plied the internal 1-ply CF layup.
I should be getting the engine inner baffle molds tomorrow and plan on starting in on those ASAP, although I will be heading back to New Bern tomorrow afternoon with Jess and some friends to watch an airshow and then out to dinner. So most of tomorrow will be more social duties calling. I do plan on getting back onto the build full bore from Sunday moving forward.