Total Build Time: 666 Hours.
The engine mount was included in the kit from Sonex and was pre-welded to specs. Fitting the engine mount for the first time was a bit nerve-wracking, since it depended on all of my measurements in my assembly of the front fuselage to be accurate.
Since my Waiex will be a taildragger, the main landing gear mounts are part of the engine mount. I needed to modify/cut the lower engine mount attach angles to accommodate the main landing gear legs (per the plans.)
With these clearances cut I could then fit the engine mount to the front of the forward fuselage. To align the engine mount vertically to specs I rigged a square (plus a ruler) against the engine mount. I also used a straight edge down the center of the fuselage to align the mount laterally.
I then made the necessary shims to secure the mount to the angles on the fwd fuselage.
The screws that hold the engine mount in place are countersunk into the angles, to allow the engine cowling to rest flush. I practiced making these countersunk holes.I didn’t want to make them too deep, and my largest countersink bit was for 5/32nd (for the main spar rivet holes.) So I countersunk the holes first, before enlarging them to 1/4″ bolt hole size.
Finally I made the countersinks in the actual fuselage angles.
I don’t have pictures of it, but the bottom 2 bolts were too long. They would impact the outside wall of the landing gear mounts. I bought a variety of bolts to try to find a pair that would fit, but the only bolts that were short enough had too short of a grip length (threads would end up within the mounting surface.) So I ended up cutting short 2 of the bolts called out for in the plans and used those to secure the engine mount.