This is the last official section of the Wings. When complete, I have spent over 10 months on this section. I actually planned for 12 months so I guess I am a month or two ahead of schedule. Not sure why I even have a schedule though. I will be done when I am done.

This section consisted of installing the wing tip strobe lights, cutting out the plastic lens, and installing nut plates so the wing tips can be attached to the wing.

The first step had me trimming the fiberglass wing tips so that they fit nicely into the end of the wings. This was followed by installing a bunch of nut plates and a bracket to strengthen the trailing edge of the wing tip. The wing tips will not be permanently installed on the wing until after the wings are installed on the airplane.

Cutting the clear plastic to shape was surprisingly difficult and time consuming. I guess this is a preview of things to come when I attempt to cut the canopy in the next year or so.

Finally, my niece Miranda, who is a US Coast Guard MH-66 Dolphin helicopter pilot, asked us to dog-sit for the weekend, and she came out for an inspection of the progress. From the look on her face and from reports of visiting the Coast Guard Station recently, Bea does not seem to be impressed with aviation related matters. We will have to work on this.

The fuselage kit arrives on August 21. So excited….