How are your side panels cut? Do they leave your spring plate covers exposed or not? Mine seem to go half-way down the covers which seems to me to be the worst of both worlds - they're on show and visible, but not exposed enough to get the things off.

Everyone's on holiday, I take it? B)

sorry I can't help but not quite everyone on hols.
I guess it will be a long weekend for the Le mans crew probably just recovered from all the alcohol :D

My hol was an enforced reinstall due to Hdrive going on a wobbler.

Anyway, just been for a peep - mine approaches the outer/visible
plate (going front to rear) arriving half way up plate. Continuing
rearward the sidepannel is cut-out neatly around/over top of the
plate. I can see all of it and anticipate no problem in removal of
plate without disturbing the side panel.

Hope that helps :) but eitherway, I would do it the easiest way
yet still retaining that all important quality - quickreleasability.
You should see some of the things I've done to mine :blink:

That sounds like what mine are supposed to be like, except they haven't been cut back enough. I was just going to cut them before re-fitting them but then I had second thoughts in case I was too enthusiastic and cut back further than the bulkhead and left a hole.

I'll do it later after it's all assembled and I can see how far I can afford to cut.

This is what I mean about the side panel:



It avoids the spring plate cover but not enough to be useful!

Needs trim by the looks of it!
Nurse - aviation tin-snips please! :)