In addition to cutting out the doghouse, I also had to cut out access ports in the keel and put in hardpoints for controls. The keel runs the length on the cabin and is between the left and right seats and the control stick is mounted in the keel.

It’s hard to visualize it, but this is the keel (upside down). The round opening wasn’t there this morning. One of the upcoming tasks is to build a cover. The opening will allow access to the control linkage.

An opening is also cut in the top of the keel towards the back.  Because this opening is at the top and rather large, a stiffener is bonded and riveted in place.

In a slow-build construction where the two fuselage halves are not assembled, the keel is dropped into position once all the modifications are made to the keel.  But with a fast-build, that’s a bit tricky since the keel won’t fit in through the door opening. So it has to be cut into two sections. Once cut, a flange is made which allows it to be reassembled.