Last week and today, I spent some time working on the L/H forward stringer. Spent a couple days at Oshkosh this week. No STOL Kings or any other variation was to be seen? Really wet, so not many airplanes could even park on the field.
8/30/10 - 3.5 hours - Total Time 1008.0
Over the last few weeks, I have spent some time working on the stringers. Lot's to figure out with the trim and final fit around the door. Pictures to follow. But I think I have a good plan and should be able to finish that part up soon.
9/5/10 - 2.5 hours - Total Time 1010.5
In anticipation of removing the engine and FWF to finish the fuselage, I bought some 2X4's to reconstruct my rotisserie. Also, finally conceded that I need some reading glasses to weld! Had my Class 2 flight physical the other day, and I'm still at 20/20. But close! I guess that at 48 I shouldn't complain? What a difference if makes when you can see what you are welding!! Continued to work on the door trim. Tacked in some rails, and cut a relief in the channel to make a nice bend. Also went for a great ride though the hills tonight! Sturgis to Nemo to Deadwood and back to Sturgis. What a great place to live!
9/6/10 - 1.5 hours - Total Time 1012.0
Fabricated a couple fillets around the door jam and stingers. Started with aluminum, but ended up just making them out of 4130. By the time I added tabs, the weight was probably about the same. This is less complicated too.
9/19/10 - 2.5 hours - Total Time 1014.5
Over the past couple weeks, I fabricated a fillet for the cargo door, with three tabs for Dzus Fasteners. Also installed a hinge for the front side of the door. Continued to install the R/H stringers.
9/19/10 - 2.5 hours - Total Time 1017.0
Spent some more time today working on the cargo door. Tacked in another top rail, and rough-cut the door panel.
9/27/10 - 2.0 hours - Total Time 1019.0
Worked on the stick and yoke assy. Had to do some trimming for clearance. I also installed a forward and aft stop and wear strip. Now I have full travel with the ability to adjust the stroke.
10/6/10 - 3.0 hours - Total Time 1022.0
Over the past few days, I continued to work on the final installation of the elevator controls. Installed the rod ends on one end of each tube. Need to make sure the rigging is correct before final installation of the other ends.
10/8/10 & 10/9/10 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 1026.0
Continued to work on the final installation of the elevator controls. Lots of removal, trimming and re-installation to make sure I didn't cut the tubes too short. Really close now. Melted in some more lead to balance the elevators. I'm making them a little nose heavy, as once the fabric is on it should even out. Also started on a stringer for the cargo door. Trying to focus on finishing these parts for good now.
10/18/10 - 3.0 hours - Total Time 1029.0
Over the past few days, I have been working on the access panel for the tail. I'm intending to incorporate a strake in the design. I built this strake from a thick piece of tinted lexan. I have also attached a couple examples of what I'm talking about.
11/13/10 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 1033.0
Today, and over the past several weeks, I continued to work on the access panel and strake mount. I still need to do a little trimming, and add a nut-plate. Other than that, I have the left side done. Now just have to finish the right side. I'm using allot of U-Clips from Harbor Freight. Much cheaper than the tinnerman's from ACSS, and they work just as well.
11/15/10 - 1.5 hours - Total Time 1034.5
Spent some time building the right hand access panel and strake mount. Same as the left side.
