Patrick:

Using the cloth is O.K. but I have seen some real glop jobs doing it that way....expoxy in globs and buckled cloth.....I'm too OCD to look at that......I use the BVM technique..... fit the part....then tack with slow ZAP or similar real thick CA.....then do a neat, smooth aeropoxy fillet around the bulk head.....my Buddy and I have done 4 HS/Blade that way and never had a problem....same way recently did my KingCat.....just be sure to prep the glass well with soap and water, acetone, and 80 grit paper......

As far as doublers, YES......2 areas of concern you mentioned.....

1. gear plate.....use the box-lock lower plate that come with the kit.....then on top of that, we added (2) 1/4" aircraft ply doublers, using Aeropoxy, and then on top of that, a piece of 3mm C/F plate from Art......all with generous fillets....we tap into the C/F plate for the gear bolts....get rid of the blind nuts that way.....for gear installs, I don't like blind nuts personally....

2. side plates that support the gear block.....we double that from the front to the back of the retract cutout with 1/8" aircraft plywood...once again with aeropoxy.....whole deal only adds a couple of ounces, as the doublers are small....


After flying our HS's off grass and asphalt with probably close to 750 flights between us, we have never torn a nose gear out....though have bent our share of struts....fortunately, one of our club members straightens the upper struts for us on a lathe and saves $18.00 bucks which is what they get for a new one.....

I will post a picture when I get a chance.....

Tom