1. Closure panels for the rear of the baggage compartment can be made from 6061-T6 .025 thick (not included in kit). We cut a piece the size for each side of the baggage compartment, and allowed enough extra material for a 5/8” flange on at least one side. This flange stiffens the panel considerably with little extra weight. The height of the panel was sized to fit from the top of the upper cross member to the bottom of the lower cross member. Picture shows the 2 panels after paint and with holes laid out.
2. I laid out 5 holes at the top and 6 holes at the bottom in line with the center row of the rivet pattern that attaches the upper and lower cross members to the vertical cross members. I used BSPS-42 rivets to attach panels.
3. Note: the box on the side of the tunnel is the Digital Remote Magnetometer from GRT Avionics. The prototype aircraft and at least one customer aircraft have flown with it mounted on top of the tunnel with only slightly more error correction required than with it mounted in the wing or tail as recommended by GRT. Ours is mounted on the side because we will have another box on top that also has a magnetometer in it.
