FIRST FRIGHT

Finally, David Ashby throws his SHK off a hill, fixes an errant rudder hinge, finds the ultimate prop retainer and labels his fleet

- David Ashby

The SHK has flown. More on the heroic maiden flight in a moment, but when I left you last the wings were complete and I had just the forward fuselage to fit out. This 4m span scale glider kit from aero-naut hasn't been without its ‘moments’ during construction over the winter, missing parts et al. But I won't dwell on those and, if you've been following progress, you'll already know the story.

CANOPY

Two canopy glazing parts were included with the kit, one clear and the other a light blue shade. The instructions don't refer to the reason and at first, I assumed the blue was a guide blank to help cut the clear moulding. That didn't seem to be the case on closer examination, so I assume the tinted canopy hides the interior a little for those who don't wish to add a pilot. Certainly, I've never seen a full-size version with tinted glass.

Trimming the piece to fit was easy enough thanks to feint guide marks. A scalpel, car body trimming scissors and a little fine sandpaper were the tools used, while canopy glue attached the glazing to the base in situ. That last point is important as the base is flimsy until the canopy adds strength, yet the cockpit surround's shape must guide the assemblies as the glue adheres. Gluing the canopy to its base on a flat workbench surface might seem fine but a perfect fit might not be the result.