35 - Upper Fwd Fuse (almost complete); 36 - Aileron & Elevator Sys. (complete); 37 - Roll Over Struct. (started); OP56 - Garmin AP Servos (installed pitch servo)

Lots accomplished since the last post ~13 days ago - see below for details.  Most importantly (not shown here), I've ordered the engine, prop, firewall forward kit, put a deposit down on a SteinAir panel, started talks with Abby at Flightline Interiors, and ordered a crapload of materials from Aircraft Spruce for the fiberglass work (esp. the canopy transition).  However, for the past couple of weeks, I specifically accomplished the following:

- installed idler arms; drilled, primed and assembled elevator pushrods and stick link pushrod
- riveted center section of forward top skin to fuselage structure (back-riveted as much as possible with my wife bucking); first time under the panel section - pain in the back; installed bushings into hinge ribs; primed and painted canopy cradles
- a half hour to torque ONE nut/bolt to attach control arm to fwd elevator pushrod; fabricated elevator bellcrank assembly; trimmed and installed AP pitch servo bracket; installed bellcrank mount; installed mid elevator pushrod to bellcrank assembly; installed elevator pushrods to idler arms; checked match-drilling of Tosten control stick with stick bases
- Installed pitch servo
- greased and installed canopy cradle assemblies (4 difficult-to-reach bolts);  attached gas springs to canopy cradle assemblies; installed canopy release mechanism and tested action (very nice); prosealed rest of top forward skin to fuselage; also, prosealed gaps in the firewall and subpanel, but instead of sealing from the inside, after placing a fay seal on the flanges and clecoing the skin, I sealed the remaining holes from the outside, pushing the sealant through the holes. Next proseal session, I may fillet seal from the inside as well (belt-and-suspenders, incase there is a small gap I couldn’t see)
- Final-drilled both Tosten control sticks; attached control stick bases; attached link stick pushrod; worked on control column travel to get both sides to hit stops at the same time; aligned control sticks
continued working on control column travel to get both sides to hit stops at the same time
riveted rest of top forward skin to fuselage; added final bead of sealant to subpanel and plugged any other holes with sealant, taking care to not make it too thick (may impede canopy)
- attached brace brackets to brace; riveted fwd and aft roll bar frame assemblies; clecoed roll bar frame assemblies, roll bar straps and window shims; #30 final-drilled outboard #40 holes
- #30 final-drilled inboard #40 holes; deburred holes; machine countersunk outbd roll bar strap where bar brace attaches; countersunk #30 holes in window shims; primed the inside of the frame assembly

Elevator pushrods (3) and stick link pushrod:

18 - Fuel Tank (installed final screw); 19 - Wing Systems Routing (completed right wing); 23 - Aileron Actuation (torque tube, pushrod, bellcrank); OP38 - Aileron Trim (fabricated EA-10, checked clearance); OP56 - Garmin AP Servos (installed Roll servo)

Van's charged my credit card for the remainder of the fuselage purchase, so in about 3 weeks, I hope to have that kit in my garage!  Exciting, but the clock is ticking for me to get most of the wing kit completed.

This week saw the attachment of the right fuel tank to the right wing, the start and completion of wiring the right wing (including 25' of RG400 for an eventual Bob Archer antenna in the wingtip), fabrication of all parts of the aileron actuation pushrods, bellcrank and torque tube (all but installing the bellcrank-to-aileron pushrod), installation of the roll servo to the right bellcrank, and fabrication and initial checks of the EA-10 aileron trim motor.  Details follow:

Wired the autopilot servo molex connector, and added a little silicone wrap to reduce stress at the bend: