First hitch pins

I finally took a weekend off of work and got a little done on the trailer.  It isn't much, but the trailer finally now has removable pins for the rear spreader bar.  I welded in a small gusset plate and then match-drilled holes to install a removable hitch pin.  Only very gross tack welds are in place so far.  All finish welding is going to be for another day.

I narrowed down how to finish off the structure.  The "lid" will be three 8 foot trusses of 1/16th inch wall, 1 inch square tube.  The ends will have solid aluminum inserts for supporting the hitch pin, and the trailer rails will have a 1 inch block welded in and drilled for the hitch pin also.  With these three trusses c-clamped onto the frame, it's finally stiff enough in torsion.  Once these truss pieces are in place (and several broken welds are repaired), I'll take another test drive around the neighborhood and hopefully make a small road trip.

Sealing the plywood floor with epoxy is waiting for warmer weather to arrive.  Once the sealing is completed, those pieces will be bolted to the frame for good.

Last, I also figured out how to create cross supports to hold up the second wing.  Pictures of this will come out later.  Getting the two wing panels tied down into the trailer and out for a drive will be a momentous occasion.

My goal is to fly this summer.

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
• finish weld the upper rail
  
• epoxy-coat seal the ply decking
• quick-pin the rear "door"
  
• dream up a top lid
• build lid trusses
  
• figure out how Goat parts sit in the trailer
  
• take all of Goat for its first trip around the neighborhood 

Optional trailer to-do's:

• install and wire running lights on the sides
• add reflective tape on the sides
• figure out front/side/back walls 
• create a rear door that can be quick-pinned in place
  

For the first-flight:

• 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