10/17/2005:

There are times when it appears as though the plans simply use any method that works, regardless of whether it makes sense. Here, you're supposed to install nut plates in the shoulder support for the seat belt attach points. After you install the shoulder support. By cutting slots in the shoulder support and sliding them in with big tabs, then cutting the tabs off. Doesn't it sound like the original maker, ummm, forgot something? Then figured out how to fix it, and the plans were simply written that way

I did this a little differently, and I'm glad I did. This took very little time to do ahead of time. I cut four aluminum pieces, and on the off chance that this makes ANY difference in strength, I ran them to the edge of the shoulder support, exactly where they would end if you followed the plans. I then riveted nut plates to them, and floxed them in place.

The catch is that I did this BEFORE glassing the inside of the shoulder rest area. Once the flox cures, I'll drill the holes for the shoulder harness bolts, and use some tape to protect the area from epoxy. THEN I will glass the inside, and install the shoulder support in the fuselage. This way, I'll have no messy nut plate installations and patching to do later, and the whole process went by very quickly with everything exposed on my bench.