The batteries need retaining straps. Its one of those jobs I’d put off and the time is now to do it.

My first idea was to use composites. I tried some spar cap material as you see above. After the cure I didn’t like it’s strength and scraped the idea.

Plan B was aluminium straps. I had a go at bending these using 2024-T3 and 0.50″. I did a beautiful job, but didn’t understand about bend radius using a big old school ‘brake’. The local sheet metal guy had one look and saw I had cracked the metal. He then snapped the part into two pieces and offered to bend my next set for me.

Plan C. Get the expert to do the bends. It seems you need a little tool to use with the big brake bender to get a less severe radii. Yeap, learning all the time.

I trimmed my new holders and added click bonds to the battery box sides. It took a while.

All in place and working. That grey box on the nose gear cover is another story. Lets just say it went on twice with lots of effort and lets not say anything else.