After three-four sessions of primer and sanding, the skirt was finally in a condition where I felt comfortable attaching it. The underside of the skirt required white primer, where it would show, to match the cockpit, but black primer where attaching to the canopy and side skirts. (The black primer is the first component of the Sika system, and required for adhesion.)

This priming and prep process was exhausting, but once the sika was spread and the skirt clamped and taped on, there wasn’t anything left to do but wait.

Note: I filled the holes on the side skirt–originally used for rivets to rivet the side skirt to the rear skirt–with rivets to nowhere, or rivets going only through the metal on the side skirt. This plugged the holes in a natural looking fashion from the inside.

The canopy closes secure, the skirt fits tight, and I’m happy, if not exhausted.