I am alive. The reason I know, is that dead people don't cough! I had a rough couple of days but it looks as if I will pull through. Even sick I worked on the plane for a few hours. I hinged the control surfaces, and mounted the flaps and ailerons. Installed the bell cranks and push rods for the flaps and ailerons. I would add a CAUTION here about the pushrod installation. The instructions call out some very precise lengths for the rods. I found that the lengths of the flap rods were incorrect. At least in my case. I measured the plans and all the numbers agreed. However using the factory numbers put the servo end clevises into the bay for the aileron servo. I had to lenghten the left rod and shorten the right one. Do some measuring on your wing before you cut the rods. The aileron rods were ok, but all of the control surface push rods were about 3/8 in. too long. Don't tighten the bellcrank screws or cut them to length untill you have completed the installation. you will be removing the nuts several times to get things sorted out. With the trailing edge done I moved on to sheeting the leading edge. WARNING: CAUTION: Do not build the fuselage first. If you do you had better be close to a sheet of 1/16 x 6 x 48 balsa, or know how to edge glue a couple of pieces together! Don't aske me how I know this.
This plane has a rather unique leading edge set up. There is a leading edge spar of 1/8 th x 1/2 sheet that slots into the wing ribs. 1/16 x3/8 strips are glued on to the spar between the ribs on the top and bottom of the wing. The strips are flush with the forward edge of the spar which brings them proud of the rib noses. All of these strips are then carved and sanded to the rib contour on their leading edge. It only took about 20 min. to accomplish this. The leading edge sheet is then CA'd to the main spar cap, ribs and leading edge block strips. When the glue has set the upper and lower sheets are sanded flush with the leading edge spar. It's not as complicated as I may make it sound. What you are left with is a FLAT leading edge. A 1/16 x 3/8 strip is glued flat to flat. Sand most of this off and you have a nice rounded leading edge. More later.