April 7: Well, an update, just before I get back to construction. Was at the airport almost daily. The tail feathers and braces are done, LG is nearly done (needed some new gussets - don't ask, just make sure you properly clamp any pieces you plan to use a power tool on 8=( ), tail wheel assembly is ready to mount, the "turtle deck" is on, the rudder pedals are built (I modified them to add toe brakes), former for instrument panel is made, the firewall is about to get it's flanges, I am starting the wing build today, a temporary floorboard is in, a "bucket" seat sits on it and I am working on the controls. It is nearly time, gentlemen, for ...........
THE VROOM VROOM STAGE.
Oh, come on, all of you builders have done it. You sit in the cockpit saying you are checking control layouts and instrument panel position. Then you start making engine noises, work your head around to check field of view (and make sure the Red Baron, or Snoopy, if you are Central swine
is not on your tail) and imagine the wind in your face. Even the guys that have built before do this.
They just don't drool or wet themselves as much, heheheh!
Now if I can post some pictures on my site, you can see the progress.
9 April: Planning cut out for the cockpit.
This last week I worked on shaping tangs, drilling, prepping for wing construction. On the turtle deck I made a change to the tubing layout. The kit shows 5 stringer/tubes evenly spaced at the former in front of the elevator. Pictures of the plane show that there are 2 additional short stringers, one on each side going forward about a foot, down to the upper longerons, with 5 stringers going up to the bulkhead behind the pilot. So I took two pieces of scrap and made these. Much better!
Getting ready to do the forward stringers that form the shape behind the cowl, and notice that the plans show them going to the rear cockpit bulkhead, but pictures seem to end forward of that. The vertical tubing that surrounds the lower wing rear spar carry-through matches this quite well, so I will use that, after mounting the firewall.
I also noted that the wings go right next to the box portion of the fuselage, with the streamlining (that I was just discussing) blending in above it. This will make for a cleaner wing mount, with less gap, so that change is in the works as well. It does mean doing a bit of sheet metal bending right there, but the angles are simple, no compound curves so I will give it a go.
April 11: Tail wheel mount is completed, just need to figure out the bungee stops. Getting ready to run the control cables to the rudder and elevator.
Time for Easter break.