stevegauth30

Surgery is well underway. Everything according to plan. With any luck, she'll be in the recovery room before long. Doing some thinking, and looking at the current setup has me thinking of different options. There's a few different ways I can go. I don't think I like the design of the sliding engine box that much. I'm thinking about cutting the tank box back into the cockpit area, the first two formers. This way, I'll have tank access from the cockpit, and a solid firewall. I need to rebuild the firewall no matter what as the top and bottom stringers angle out making the firewall 1/2 in her bigger up and down. The side to side stays the same. This will also give me a better fit on the cowl. Almost like FS already thought of shortening the nose. Lol. I have to say, I've never peeled off so much good sheeting from one plane in my life. Almost every part of this fuse has been stripped and re worked. Oh well. As long as it flies good and looks rather descent, I'm a happy camper and it was worth it. More progress coming soon. I have the day off.

Melchizedek

You go Steve.
It will be right as rain in no time

Kevin

stevegauth30

Thanks Kev. That's the plan. As right as I can get it anyway.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Steve, at least by shorting the nose you'll get it done the way you like it not as designed.

Mike

stevegauth30

That, along with the fact that it will save a boat load of dead weight took most of the thinking out of it. I would have had to add an ungodly amount of weight to the arss end. That, to me, itsa no good. So, I'll plug along till I get it. I still had to add a lot more weight to the nose too. The cowl, the ignition, the two servos, the wheel pants, which are ahead of the CG. It may have been a disaster. I'm just hoping that someone down the line, builds this plane, and don't have to go through the same crap as I did.

flyingagin

That's the great thing about these threads. Some one has done the learning curve for you.
Well unfortunately I keep finding roads that I am the first to travel. Now where the heck is that blasted road map?

Ken

stevegauth30

Well, good luck finding a Mulligan thread that got past the tail feathers. Making forward progress. The sub firewall is rough cut and fits pretty dang good. After come fine tuning it will be ready for glue, although it won't actually get installed until after the tank box is squared away. I made all the cuts to originally remove the nose with a Dremel and a cut off wheel. I figured that would be the least vibration. Then, to come up with the eclipse radius, I simply flipped the cut off nose over and traced it out. Came out great the first go. The sub firewall made of 1/8 3 ply lite was cut with a jig saw and a fine tooth metal blade. It still gets a 1/4 birch 7 ply firewall. It will all get pinned together and epoxied. I feel better about mounting the engine to that.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Nice!

TomCrump

Geez. When you decide to do something, you get right to it !

stevegauth30

Ha ha. Not usually. Normally I'd sit and stare at it for a few days trying to decide if it's the right move or not. This time there was no question. I have to say, for the first time in this build something worked out exactly like I hoped. Nice and easy. The tank box is installed and the glue is drying. This way will be much stronger too. Hopefully I have enough 3/32 to re sheet it. With any luck I'll be back to where I left off before starting this by tomorrow.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Don't you just love it when something goes right the first time?

stevegauth30

Yeps!

stevegauth30

I'd call that a success. Other than gluing the sub FW in place, that's it for today. My back is screaming at me. I need more 3/32 sheeting anyhow and I'm not going to get it today. I'm anxious to see how it balances now. Better I hope.

flyingagin

It simply has got to help. Lets hope enough

Ken

TomCrump

A well executed modification, I'd say.

flyingagin

I had a blast today
Started breaking in the engine today. Had a heck of a time finding a secure place to mount the engine. Finally took my table saw of a table on the back patio and clamped a mount up there. First hit was with out the muffler or even a fuel tanked hooked up. Just a good prime. Just wanted to see if it would bark. And bark it did. The German Shepard took off for the far side of the yard. So then Finnish with a tank hook up and a full tank. HS Needle at 4 turns. Muffler on. Started right up at 1/4 throttle. As soon as I advanced the throttle do gone again. Some watch dog. My little Shih Tzu is braver. Ran a few tanks nice a rich, slowly inching up on the needle.
I had closed that side of the house while running it. About the third tank the yard looks like it has a grey fog in it. No dog to behold. Then as I am starting to hit a rich 2 stroke and back off, my wife comes out and tells me to stop. Dang it. It is starting to sound like it wants to sing. She said I set off the smoke alarm in the house. I thought that was really funny. She was not amused. Women!
Any way it sounds like it is going to be strong.

I have not had to time to play with the radio yet other than throw the battery from the other radio in it. I did charge up (while running the engine) a ni mh battery from my control line handle/radio. Now I can transfer the programming over.

Many thanks again Roger
Yeah I was smiling big today

Oh yeah back on subject, That looks good Steve. You will be smiling in the end.

Ken

stevegauth30

I'm already smiling Ken, at how easy the mod was. I'm also happy to hear you getting a little bit of enjoyment. What engine are you breaking in?

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Sounds like a good strong engine you got there! Next time disconnect the smoke alarm battery and reconnect it when you're finished.

flyingagin

It is a ST .40. I have a salvaged wing for it. Will make a profile fuse. Some one tossed the wing after a crash. I recycle, it's ecological. haha
But Mike the smoke alarm was halve the fun. Been 20 years since I broke an engine in.
Ken

stevegauth30

yeah but still, I don't think you're supposed to do that right under an open window. especially when the wife is right on the other side of said window . then again, I've done worse.

flyingagin

That is true But I did close up that side of the house. Just shows how drafty it is.

Hmmm Wife still ain't smiling about it. Jeeze women!
I got her goat, all I can say is score. Many more scores like that and she will get out the iron skillet.
You must not be pulling as many hours as you were. As even backwards steps is still moving right along with the plane.
Ken

stevegauth30

no, I haven't been pulling any hours this last week. it's killing me to be sitting home not making any money. So I might as well work on my plane,

mschneider2005

My Feedback: (34)

I built one a about 20 years ago... Other than the somewhat suspect quality of the wood and die-cutting it turned out well. One thing that I remember from the build is that the incidence was way off. If I recall.. I think it's supposed to be 0 deg/wing, -2 deg./stab and -2 deg/engine. When I was setting up the wing-root I found it was +2 deg / wing and -2 deg /stab... you may want to be sure it's setup exactly as the plans call for it.

stevegauth30

Glad you joined in. I know the incidences are as per the plans. Weather or not THATS the best way is a different story. But what Bud called for is what Bud got. Do you remember any specifics about yours? Weight? Power plant? thanks again for joining in

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Be careful remember what happened to willy Nelson. He woke up sown inside the bed sheet with the wife beating him before she cleaned the place and taking everything including his clothes!