Just chipping away at an easy task on an unexpected weekend day off, I put a coat of paint on the new axle. The steel had some light surface rust already starting to grow, so it was time to add protection.
I simply brushed on Rustoleum black semi-gloss enamel paint. The axle went from looking reasonable to looking awesome. Paint makes such a difference visually, and I really hope that it protects the metal beneath (expect three coats, and inside the open square tube also).
Trailer to do's are now:
paint axle assembly with some enamel paint- repair left tail-light wiring
- buy more Argon gas
- finish weld the vertical elements
- epoxy-coat seal the ply decking
- install and wire running lights on the sides
- add reflective tape on the sides
- create a rear door that can be quick-pinned in place
- figure out front/side/back walls
- dream up a top lid
- figure out how Goat parts sit in the trailer
- take all of Goat for its first trip around the neighborhood
- backyard final assembly and thorough pre-flight check, including weight & balance
- re-weld the tow hitch release (I'm now doubtful it had good penetration)
- buy tow rope, weak-links, and end rings
- buy/borrow radios (1x airborne, 1x car)
- find a place to fly
- travel
- fly
After the first-flight:
- add leather patch to wing tips where will rub the ground
- install leather patch guides for elevator control lines
- paint trim color
- install wing root kiss seal
- build a wing tip dolly
- build a wing wheel
- jury strut fairings
- main strut fairings (after flying to figure out the right angles)
- emergency parachute
- real variometer (LXNav with a TEK probe is my intention, if it is sensitive at low speed...)
- dogue chute
