Great sunny weather today, so let's work on the canopy. First I enlarge the slit at the front, with the precut slit there is no way the canopy is going to fit inside. I make some guess work first, it will get fine tuned later.



After having done the cut marked last time, here is the first interference. The picture is from beaind the slit, and the canopy has to be above the small ledge visible in the picture, so I'll have to cut more.



Here a picture from the other side, the slit has been modified but the canopy has to be cut a bit more.



Here the same view after the cut. The slit seems to be bit too deep, but I think it will look better after the sides have been adjusted. I did I few cuts to reach this stage, but I did't want to end up too short.



After repositionning of the aft frame (it has to be in contact with the canopy), I drill and rivet the two halves together.



The lower angles get drilled to full size, I'll rivet them the next time the frame comes off the fuselage.

After the big cut yesterday, today begins the tweaking of the canopy. First I verify the positionning and the result of yesterday's cut. Here is a picture of the top of the rollbar, the line in the middle of the bar is visible, and the canopy goes above the line by 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch. On the side the canopy is on the line or barely over the line. All looks good.



At the front, the canopy has to go in the "ear", the slit visible on the next picture. I have to shorten the front sides a bit more. Using adhesive tape I mark this new cut line.



Here we have the new cut line, I also maked the sides but left enough plexi to make the fine tuning later.

Today I worked again on the canopy. After having taken the canopy of the fuselage, I redid the rollbar protection, marked the center of the rollbar and installed a 1" woodblock on the rollbar. When the canopy touches the woodblock it is ready to be cut in two.



This is the front of the canopy after the first cut, I had to cut a bit more to get a better fit.



Before doing that, I marked the cut line on the rear window. I was very conservative on this.



A picture of the two parts I cut off the front of the canopy, the cut line for the big cut can now be made.



After the umpteenth installation on the fuselage, the cut line is marked with two adhesive tape lines.



I used a box and some foam blocks to maintain the two parts of the canopy to avoid them falling after the cut. It worked very well.



Cutting time. I first made a shallow cut on the whole length, then I cut the two sides before finishing the center. Each time a small length was done, the two parts where taped together with some ducttape.



And the result after ten minutes of cutting.



After sanding I put the two parts back on the fuselage. It seems to look good. Next operation will be fitting the forward part to the canopy frame.

As the canopy is off the fuselage, I riveted the side lock brackets. Here the rear part.



And here the side part. I also painted the rivets, which is very easy with the hammered paint.
I then put the canopy back on the frame to draw the next cut at the front. The plans are quite vague with some instructions like : with the canopy on the fuselage, the cut linew will become obvious. Well, I'm no so sure. I looked at some websites for help.
The cut has not been made as it is too cold again.

After much thinking and debating, the engine has been ordered. The general configuration was already decided upon ordering the finishing kit at Vans. Only the vendor had be to decided.
After having been very long in favor of building a Superior engine with the english dealer of these engines, the recent problems at Thielert, Superior's owner, and the specific tappet configuration made me choose Mattituck.
The engine will be a roller tappet TMX IO-360, equipped for constant speed but configured for fixed pitch.
It comes with the Red Gold package.
It will have one classic magneto and one P-mag electronic ignition.
Delivery is scheduled for October.