Installing the Canard

With the canard complete it was time to fit the canard to the fuselage. Remember the lift tabs that were bonded in? Well, those are now coming into play.

Bonded lift tab just hanging out in the upper right.

Before taking any action, one has to make sure the canard lines up perfectly on the fuselage. It had to be level, centered, and perpendicular to the fuselage. Unfortunately, the F-22 bulkhead was a bit twisted, so the attach points had to be evened out before proceeding.

While the added glass cured, Ced cut out alignment tabs to bond onto the canard's trailing edge. These tabs will mount to the F-28 bulkhead (the bulkhead in the photo below that has a "P" on it).

The canard is upside down.

Curing alignment tab

 With things squared up and the tabs cured, it was time to fit the canard on the fuselage.

Ced carved the side wall foam of the nose and marked out where the torque tube will slide into the fuselage wall.

 Fits like a glove (with the appropriate wiggle room).

 With the canard sitting well on the fuselage, the elevators needed a trim.

Trimming complete, hardware was ready to go in.

The four attach points (two in the F-22 bulkhead in front and two in the F-28 bulkhead behind) were prepped and ready for the canard to be mounted.

Look! A lifting surface!

Things fit well together and the "boat" was looking more like a plane. Well, it did for a few hours. Once everything was sorted, the canard was unbolted from the fuselage and put back into storage.

(Quick summary:  The canard was squared up to the fuselage, holes were drilled in the two bulkheads that the canard attaches to, and hardware was installed.)

Don't judge me by my poorly drawn bulkheads.