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Front cross brace has been removed

Note: Paul has flipped the fuselage upside down to make it easier to work on, so it looks different from the last photos.

Now there is room for the instructors feet, ha.

A joint after the removal of the cross brace, lots of work needed (fill with weld).

Only a little bit of filling needed on this joint.

BTW, notice that the paint has been sanded to prep it for the welding. Sanding is used because it does not introduce any elements to the metal that could contaminate the weld.