Today I removed the forward skin and began prepping it. I cut out the cockpit recess, using snips to get within about quarter inch of the line, then a notching tool to get within 1/32", then a pneumatic rotary disk and sandpaper to get it perfect. I also removed strips of the blue plastic along the rivet lines.
Next, I removed the extra skin piece where the baggage door will go, then filed down the tabs along the edges and polished the skin edges.
I clecoed the skin back on the fuselage and began installing the instrument panel and sub-panels. I noticed right away that there's a gap between the sub-panels and the side skins (Photo 3). Just about every other RV-8 builder I've ever talked to has reported this same issue. I might be able to remedy it by building a pair of curved filler tabs, and riveting them to the side panels.