Part of the building experience is learning how to fix what you have messed up... During the bottom layup process I had an assistant (the first time anyone has help on the project!) who forgot to mix the epoxy after getting 4 squirts from the pump. She discovered the error right after she poured some of it onto the glass. In my nievity I thought we could scoop most of it up and then just mix what was left with good epoxy. WRONG! Days later - by accident - while the fuselage was upside down I had a flood light pointed at the bottom from underneath. When the skin in that area got warm it began to look slick and a drop formed. That meant that the epoxy was not cured in that area - and never would. So I put more heat on it to get the epoxy to liquify and show the extent of the problem.

To the left is a picture of the affected area. The square lines are at least 1 inch from any area that looked suspicious or after probing with razor knife and drill was found to be soft.

The step that I am using is one that is in use by a number of Long-EZ and Cozy builders. It consists of an aluminum tube nested inside another aluminum tube. The inner tube can be extended outward 6-7" via a nob that extends through a slot in the outer tube (see the slot in the tube). The outer tube is glassed onto the forward face of the Instrument Panel just below the leg hole.

To the left - tube is being floxed in place.