VincentJ

Dave that is one beautiful trailer! I'm sure you will enjoy it...

Anthony, yes I did decide on the covering, I ordered a 10 meter roll of Solartex. I know it's not your favorite covering but.... I too will be using Klass Kote epoxy paint on this build. $$$[X(] As far as stitching and tapes, I checked and I have plenty of stitching on hand so I'll go ahead and do it. I will have to order some tapes though.

I installed the bottom fuselage stringer in place as well as the two balsa trailing edge supports strips. I took the liberty of making these fill strips much larger than stock as well as scalloping them. Here are the photos of today's work...

WacoNut

It's really taking shape.
Don't worry about disappointing me with the covering, it's your bird It's just not a preference of mine and to each his own. I am sure she will look great when done.
Later!!
Anthony

VincentJ

I fabricated a more substantial tailwheel mount not being satisfied with the supplied mount being made from lite ply. Before epoxying it to the fuse, holes needed to be drilled for it to receive the blind nuts which would secure the tailwheel assembly. The blind nuts were counter sunk with a 3/8" Forstner bit as it would have otherwise interfered with the Spruce longerons. By countersinking them it allowed the blind nuts to sit flush with the plywood mount and longerons. Before the nuts were pressed into place some epoxy was spread into their respective holes.

The tailwheel assembly being used was purchased from Ohio Superstar Products. http://ohio-superstar.com/images/IMG_0126.JPG

Note that the hole farthest to the rear in the fuselage's longerons had to be drilled to allow the cap head bolt to pass through.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Looks great Vincent, are you planning on continuing that landing-gear mount thickness down to the TE of the wing where it meets with the fuse? Its nice that it actually covers up the FG cloth in the center section, just wondering if you were going to cover all of it.

Your making the decision difficult for me to start the SWII this fall, but I think I have been waiting so long for the Miss LA that I will have to get that going first. I am sure glad that I will have this thread to reference in the future! And thanks for the comment on the trailer, my plan is to get it broke-in this year, and get up to see Mr. Crump next summer. Should be interesting with the truck-camper on the GMC while pulling the trailer up to Traverse City!

Thanks,

dave

acerc

Very nice work in every aspect Vincent. If only I was half as talented as you, I try, but can't come close to as clean and neat as you are with a build.

Dave are you talking about a Travel Trailer or a slide in camper?

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Robert, I guess "Slide-in-camper" means the same to me as "Truck Camper"....but yes, its a camper that go's into the bed of my truck. I have towed a 3-place ATV trailer with 2 quads and had the truck camper on for me and my son already, but since then I have added the air-lift suspension bags, so I am assuming it should be better now. I am thinking going down to Joe Nall with the camper too!

Dave

VincentJ

Robert thank you for the compliments my friend, but you could build a plane for me anytime! Hello look at your hangar!

Dave, without getting personal, what does a trailer like that go for? I have been thinking about getting one in a couple of years. It should raise your level of enjoyment up a few notches in this hobby...

TomCrump

I'm looking forward to your visit, Dave.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Not to personal at all Vincent! Like everything, trailers come in many price ranges. The primary difference between the "cheaper" ones vs. the "midgrade" versions is 1/4" interior plywood vs. 3/8" ply, and things like vents, ramp/no ramp, etc.. Mine is a "cheap-o", since I didn't feel I needed the extra weight or heavy-duty-ness of 3/8' walls, and could install my own vents, not to mention I wanted "barn doors" in the back vs. a ramp (personal preference). That being said, my trailer was $2300 out-the-door with a full size spare tire. By the time its finished, I figure I will have about $3000 into it with the charging setup, roof and side vents, paint, shelves, deep cycle battery, carpet, inverter,etc... It would have cost me about that just to get the "midgrade" trailer. But make no mistake, the 3/8" walls would make it easier to install lightweight stuff w/o having to find a stud.

Oh, and mine is a 6x10, I would have went for a 6x12 if they had one I liked, but I couldn't find the configuration/features/color I wanted in any of the 6x12's they had in stock. Also, once you go bigger than 6x12 (at least here) you have to get a tandem axel, and that jumps the price up about another $800.00-$900.00.

Dave

TomCrump

My 6X12 V-nose was $2900. I spent another $600 getting it outfitted to my liking.

acerc

Vincent I have a 7x14 V nose @ $2995 on order, to be picked up the 29th. I like the idea of having my planes in it and ready to go. No loading and unloading.

WacoNut

Trailers do make it nice and at a point become a necessity when your planes get too big.
I can comfortably haul 3 giant scale planes at a time in my 6x12 trailer and with a little imagination and some more shelves I am sure I can get 5 of them in there. I am also going to run AC/DC electric in mine as well as some LED lighting. I picked mine up when it was a few years old in like new condition for $1,600 with new tires and rims. I just did an initial investment of about $100 to put a couple of shelves in and a roof vent. If you want to store your planes in the trailer you need to manage the temps somewhat.

One thing I do suggest is add in some vents, these trailers do get hot. Mine is light gray and silver and I can't imagine how hot a black one gets.

Later!!
Anthony

acerc

Ok, mine will have three shelves in the nose for the three planes I do not want to disassemble, racks on one side for wings and fuses, as Anthony both AC/DC powered. I had the side door downsized to 22" and moved rearward to the fender. In this door there will be a window unit mount, that's right A/C. Where I will park it there is a R/V hook up so it can be plugged in and kept cool, generator at the field though.

VincentJ

Thanks all for the great information! They certainly are a great investment. Do they need to be insured as well or is that covered along with the vehicle that's pulling it?

acerc

Yes they need to be insured. I have mine already insured, effective the 29th. Auto does not cover anything attached to the vehicle. Or even in the bed.

Cub Flyer Fresno

Gee, when I compare the price of a trailer vs what I spent on my bike, that's not bad at all!Okay, I'll tell you. I spent $4,500 on my Kuota Kredo!

acerc

No comment!!

Cub Flyer Fresno

Ya gotta admit, that's a really nice bike!  

WacoNut

No wings no motor[][&o]

I can get a workout and run out of breath flying around the yard pushing my lawn mower I prefer riding though.

BTW: I just picked up paint and carpet for my trailer. Will start working on that in a few days. OK the thread is back to VJ

Anthony

raptureboy

Isee a new reality tv show, RC trailer repo men Wow Ithink you guys have crossed over from hobby to insanity If I came home with a trailer for my airplanes my wife might have me committed; to a pine boxI will have to stick to my Dodge mini van for now, I can comfortably get all the airplanes Iwant to crash in a day into it But they are nice looking trailers and and if my planes were as big as Anthony's then it would be a necessity, but $4500 for a bicyclenow that is crazy. Have you seen the new show "airplane repo"? I just watchedit last night, crazy, they reposess airplanes from rich people and even an Airbus A20 from somesmall airline by sneaking into hangers and making off with the planes for upwards of a 10% commission on the value of the plane. One guy repossessed a $3 mil citation jet, only to have the owner steal it back and take off with it. Almost a 100 here today so no flying again

cloudancer03

My Feedback: (22)

Nice to see the spacewalker 2.ibuilt one several years back and got lots of help from tom crump.tom has a build review and it helped me immensely.I will have to look for some pics.mine was powered with a satio 150.and weighed about 13 pounds.thankd
S to tom I made scale cockpit with dashboards etc. Covered it with sig koverall and painted it with hunter green and dianna cream.what a sweet flyer.itsa ni e sunday flyer and handled like a trainer.I sold mine just about 3 months ago.
THANKS TOM.

VincentJ

Today is the time to find out if my calculations on moving the firewall back was correct, as I decided to fit the cowl to the fuselage today. After seeing where the cowl needed to be trimmed I got out my Dremel equipped with the drum sander and made the opening for the front of the engine. I chose not to use the template supplied, but rather use my own measurements to get the opening just the way I wanted it.

Six 4-40 wood serts were used to secure the cowl to the fuse. An 11/64" bit was used to drill the holes which the wood sert would be screwed into. After you drill the hole but before you install the wood sert, be sure to put some epoxy on the outer threads to bond it to the fuse permanently. Be sure to check all the threads of the wood serts before you install them as one of my wood serts came without the inside being tapped (see photo)! I'm glad I caught it. (This meant an unexpected visit to the LHS to get another wood sert.)

4-40 button-head bolts were used to secure the cowl to the fuse.

ovationdave

My Feedback: (16)

Wow, that landing gear really makes a difference, that looks great! The fit to the cowl is nice, thats the FGS cowl right? I know I ordered one for mine too, in fact I have about 5 of their cowls sitting on my shelf waiting for a plane.....

Dave

WacoNut

Looks Good VJ,
I will have to remember the inserts for my build. never thought of using them before. Seems like a better alternative to the blind nuts. Won't be long and you will be covering that thing.

I installed the DLE-35 in my buddy's Decathalon yesterday. good looking engine. I also priced a 25% AMR Decathalon and DLE-55 RA earlier as well. It might just leap ahead of the SW if the wife doesn't get wise If she starts visiting RCU I am in trouble.

Later!!
Anthony

out2pasture

Oh Wow Vincent! That spacewalker is really looking good! And I see you have the tail wheel on too. It’s amazing how fast you build. At this rate you’ll be covering next week! Are you sure the engine is out far enough? Your spinner might have a back plate that sits back a little like some spinners do.

I bought myself a new tool. No more Harbor Freight crappy spray guns for me! I can't wait to try it out. I take back every bad thing I ever said about Nelson paints. My $19 HF gun spitted thin filtered Sig dope just as badly as the Nelson paint ever did.

http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...ray%20Gun.html

I like your trailer Dave. Quite a few guys in our club have them. I would never have thought to put in bunk beds though. I’m sure they’ll come in handy on those long road trips.