1. After quite a bit of filing and trimming, plus using a Vixen file to thin-out an oil plug on the sump, the mixture bellcrank bracket will now fit my engine. (I will still need to weld on some pieces to the bellcrank to make the two flat plates into a C-channel, for strength.) At last now I know the modified bellcrank idea should work.
2. I decided it was time to get some precise measurements for the prop, spinner and cowl. So, with the help of my friend Tim, we mounted the propeller for the first time. I placed the spinner and the upper cowl in place, just to get an idea of the "look" of the airplane. I must say, I am really excited by how it's going to look with the 3-blade prop and large spinner!
3. After taking a slew of measurements, I removed the prop and spinner, attached the special cowl-fitting jig, and set the prop-flange-to-spinner-backplate distance. This allowed me to definitively clamp the cowl to the jig fixture and start to determine where the rear cowling trim line will be.
4. My canopy skirt guru Tim (a different Tim) sent me photos and videos of the foam mold being cut on a CNC machine. We should have a test skirt very soon!