Today I finished the instrument panel leg holes reinforcement flange/cable channel layups.

Starting on the left, I pulled the peel ply and did a rough razor trim of the 3 ply interior carbon fiber layup.  Notice this layup is pretty much a 3-ply “U-channel” in that it’s attached to the forward face of the composite instrument panel, and then the floor and front wall of the channel. (pic 2 shows a peak of Version 4 nose hatch latch handle safety guard).

On the right side side, I used the slightly smaller 3D printed form and laid up 2 plies of carbon fiber on the outside of the form as I did on the left side.  Also like the left side, I had peel ply on the inside (over the taped up form, or mold) and also on the outside of the layup (pic 1).  I used MGS 335 epoxy with fast hardener, so a few hours later this sucker was cured… and off came the clamps (pic 2).

I pulled the 3D printed form out and then cleaned up the inside of the layup in prep for first a strip of Lantor Soric that I laid in on the bottom (after a fillet along the corner of the panel and the carbon fiber… pic 1).  I then laid up the 3 plies of carbon fiber (all scraps for these layups I’ll note!) on the inside and peel plied the layup (pic 2).  I then left it to cure overnight.

Back on the canard fit into the nose and sidewall after a good half dozen rounds of sanding and dialing in the fit (about 1.5 hours worth of work), here we have the left side: first a look at the leading edge (pic 1), and then the underside (pic 2).  All fitting nicely.

And pretty much the same thing on the right side.

I also worked a good bit on the canopy perimeter fit and of course the turtledeck, with the requisite micro to fill in a few uneven spots and divots (yes, unfortunately I’m playing THAT game).

Moving forward…