Monday the weather held out long enough to
provide a good day for painting canopy components with JetFlex interior paint. Prior
to painting, decided it best to finish work on the C-1203A&B attach angles.
The C-1203A&B attach angles require fluting to conform to the curve of the
canopy frame. The object of the fluting is to insure the inside edge of the
attach angles follows the bow of the canopy frame. The flutes were placed
between the previously drilled rivet holes and did their job of curving the
attach angles to match the shape of the canopy frame. The flutes need to be
placed upward so the attach angles will remain sitting flat on the canopy frame.
About to place the first flute in the F-1203A forward
attach angle. Note the curve of the canopy frame on the left … this is the amount
of curve the fluting needs to induce in the attach angle.
Starting at the forward portion of the F-1203A
attach angle a flute is placed where the attach angle no longer parallels the
edge of the canopy frame. The fluting will pull the metal inward bringing the
edge of the attach angle back in alignment with the inside edge of the canopy
frame. This process is repeated placing flutes between the remaining rivet
holes until the attach angle precisely follows the curve of the canopy frame.
After fluting, the F-1203A forward attach angle
conforms perfectly to the inside curve of the canopy frame. The area requiring
fluting is the span between my fingers.
The same process was repeated for the F-1203B
aft attach angle for the left side and then again for both the F-1203A&B attach
angles for the right side of the canopy frame.
F-1203A&B forward and aft attach angles
fluted and ready for JetFlex paint.
After fluting the F-1203A&B forward and aft attach
angles was completed, the canopy frame and all the remaining small canopy parts
were cleaned with Acetone and subsequently sprayed with JetFlex interior paint.
