The Hatch Revealed

After installing the beadboard we needed to cover the outside of the hatch with 1/8" birch plywood.  This was a two-step process, whereby we first attached a 5' plywood section, and we then affixed a piece fit to the remaining area.

Below, the second piece of 1/8" birch is installed, and the joint/end shimmed as appropriate.

After letting the glue set, we removed the band clamps to reveal the hatch as shown below, with the top of the hatch at the bottom of the photo.

Next we test-fit the completed hatch to the opening.  There was no precision in this fitting and thus no judgements made.  Note that the crosspiece is there merely to provide an in-situ clamping element.

Once the hatch was upside-down on the table, one couldn't resist the photo ops:

Sean couldn't resist the opportunity:

Unfortunately for him, the hatch will not be installed upside-down, and such restive opportunities will not exist.