OK... aside from doing some other things today... I did manage some more time on my "ARF" Decathlon.

I now have ALL of my Robart hinges completed! Yes!!! I'm still going out to work the surface about every half hour just to be sure I keep any epoxy from setting within the swivel area. This seems to work really well. As I do this, the Vaseline I used to protect them seems to work it's way in deeper and the hinges get glassy smooth with minimal resistance.

With that done, and having already added the triangle stock around the perimeter of the front of the firewall, I was able to go forward with coating the firewall with some thinned epoxy. At the same time, since I had some extra left over, I ran 1" strips of fiberglass over the inner seams of the cowling and completely around the back edge to better handle the screws which will hold it on. The cowling now only lacks the hole for the carb, and final installation. I'll then pull it, do just a bit of filling. I think I'll use thick CA for this instead of bondo as I fear any flex might crack bondo. I bit more sanding and it will be ready for painting. I picked up some model paint from the LHS. I hope mine is a decent match. Otherwise I'll be having custom paint mixed.

I installed a few more servos. Actually, come to think of it, all of the servos are installed now.

I installed the control horns and rods on the elevators. All other control horns and rods need to be made/installed.

I've been holding off on the windshield and windows as it's easier to work through those openings. But at the same time, I'm trying to be sure that I can get to everything without issues once those are installed. I like Stevo's working door. I considered that, but as this model will at times be put under very high stress, I was worried about cutting that much of the side out. Then again, Stevo gained a lot back with his wing mod... likely as strong as stock or better. Anyway, I suddenly had this really crazy idea about electric windows. Just a fleeting thought but it was a fun one. I'll use a failsafe on the SmartFly, so really I won't have to worry about my Lipos during a long day at the field. Supposedly it only draws about 5 mah a day when in failsafe mode, so one could I guess leave everything connected for a month. But, for me, just as long as I don't have to take off the wing to change out a battery during a day at the field I'm really happy.

I do lack a tray/holder for my flight batteries. I'm waiting until I get the rest of it together to see where my CoG winds up and hopefully can make the final adjustments with battery positioning. My earlier testing seems to indicate forward is better.

All day long I was working outside and was through the shop many times. I was a bit worried about the pearl white and orange. The chrome trim made sense. As I passed by the model many times today, it just kept looking better and better to me. I guess that's what matters. But, what I know about myself is I normally don't get hit with an immediate reaction to something like color. Instead, if it grows over time, I know I've done something that at least I like. These colors are really growing on me. I don't think I'll be tired of them for a long time. I hope the model is still around for a long time!

OK, enough of my rambling. I must might actually have this thing in RTF state by next weekend!