Some of us emerge from the birth canal with the patience of Job, while others have the attention span of fruit flies. Being one of the latter, I came downstairs to inspect my DN's new canopy:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jorysquibb/BuildingAnEnclosedDNCockpit#5310064211555764130 Hooray! The epoxy gods had been sufficiently propitiated, but now that subtle fruit fly alarm clock was jangling. "OK, sweetie, you're going to be done by noon!" Often I keep a "Job" in the wings, to keep me working slowly and carefully. Someone like Lloyd or Dickie or Bill. Someone to say, " If you haven't got time to do it right, you've got time to do it over!" But this morning, they weren't around...
So, avoiding the frigid garage, I took the project to the warmer basement and installed the push-pads which allow the pilot to get in and out:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jorysquibb/BuildingAnEnclosedDNCockpit#5310064217424196018You'll see some of my dad's power tools from the 40's in the background. At 86, he called me: "Come to Michigan and get these tools" "Why not give them to my brother-in-law? He's across the street." "Your brother-in-law isn't competent to use these tools". I knew that wasn't true. Something was going on here. 904 miles and a blizzard later, I helped ease him down the stairs, where for two days he told me stories about every tool as we packed them up: "Now George Bishop, my great-uncle made hand saws, and this one, you can see his logo etched there. Now this spoke shave, well, you remember that 1923 Olds I had in college..."
Later, back in Maine, the tools piled on the front lawn, I thought of the big tool sale I had planned. But something primitive was gripping me. Unaccountably, I set my life aside and installed his workshop in my basement, repairing everything as I went. I even hung the bearded patriarchs on the wall and refinished his great chests....some ancient lake seemed to be lap-laping at my shore. The spears were being handed down the bloodline. A year later he was dead....Wish I could call him: Thanks, Dad, for showing this thick-head what it's about. I sure enjoy your tools.....
Where was I, oh yes, 10AM. I applied the paint:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jorysquibb/BuildingAnEnclosedDNCockpit#5310064219119559874takes about a quart. remember: think like rain...
Then I declared it finished and put it together in the garage: You'll see under the forward cockpit edge one of the four 1/4-20 thumb screws which pass through fender washers into threaded inserts in the DN's coaming, to clamp the new sill in place. See you (behind me no doubt) on the ice.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jorysquibb/BuildingAnEnclosedDNCockpit#5310064222253579874 
