Construction Log
STOL King Experimental Airplane
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7/6/14 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 1153.5
Finished all the elevator PP tubes.  Decided to remove the rivets and rosette and V weld them in.  Saw this at the factory back in 2003.  Started to disassemble the airplane for final welding and paint.  Nice to spend some time on it again!
7/9/14 - 3.5 hours - Total Time 1157.0
Made one end of the new rotisserie for final welding, finishing, and paint.  Used stuff I had around and some parts off the first rotisserie.  Should be pretty sturdy, and not over engineered?  Also did some more disassembly the other day.
7/10/14 - 2.0 hours - Total Time 1159.0
Made the other end of the new rotisserie.  Maggie was a big helper.
7/12/14 - 1.0 hours - Total Time 1160.0
On the rotisserie.  Beautiful night out!  Plus, I'm a Grandpa for the first time!  Hailey Jean.  6lbs8oz.
7/15/14 - 3.0 hours - Total Time 1163.0
Spent several hours over the last few days, final welding lots of little pieces that were tacked in.
8/14/14 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 1167.0
More final welding.  Also spent quite a bit of time on the electrical system design.  Not included in built time.
8/18/14 - 4.0 hours - Total Time 1171.0
More final welding.  Started stringer project on the belly.  Really need it to cover the PP tube from the aft stick to the bell crank.  Also to for space to route electrical and fuel.  Have a rough draft of the wiring schematic, and panel.
9/2/14 - 16.0 hours - Total Time 1187.0
So after about 16 hours of final welding and fabrication, the airframe is 99% done.  Need to install the wing attachment fittings (already made) and do another once over. Planning to put-up the car tent I bought a few years ago, and prime and paint in the garage.  I'm also going to try scotch bright and wire wheel before priming, as I think sand blasting is a little over kill.  Plus, you have to do the whole thing at once to prevent flash rust.  I guess we will see how it goes? 
9/11/14 - 7.0 hours - Total Time 1194.0
Have the wing fittings tacked in.  Looks like the angle if incidence is about 6 1/2 degrees?  Seems like a lot?  Then, I realized I still have about 40 tabs to install, so I've been working on those.  Will install the wing root tabs on the inside, to allow for panels.  Not sure why the plans have them on the outside?
9/151/14 - 5.0 hours - Total Time 1199.0
Continued to weld tabs and fittings.  Also installed a gas spring strut to hold the door open.  It's a 20 lb strut with universal ball fittings.
10/26/14 - 7.0 hours - Total Time 1206.0
Final welding completed, to include about 60 tabs I wasn't thinking about.  I have been working on setting up the paint booth I bought a couple years ago.  (car port)  Since I'm just using a touch-up gun to prime and paint, I think this will be sufficient and keep the garage from being covered with over-spray.
11/08/14 - 10.0 hours - Total Time 1216.0
I have about 99% of the main fuselage sanded and primed.  Final welded and fit the front pedals.
11/09/14 - 1.0 hours - Total Time 1217.0 Modified the pedal by moving the cotter pin.  The plans have it where the arrow points.  By moving it outboard, the brake can move without rotating the rudder cable attachment.
11/11/14 - 7.0 hours - Total Time 1224.0
Modified the other pedal like the first.  Welded grounding strap tab on the motor mount.  Welded tabs on the main gear legs for brake lines.  (thanks Toby!)  Rosette' ed a .049 tube inside the inboard gear leg.  This is where the one gear failed.  I had already used .049 before, so that makes that part .098 wall.  Should be plenty strong now.  Finish welded stick yoke.  7 degrees here, so a little cold to prime.
11/25/14 - 18.0 hours - Total Time 1242.0
Have about 95% of the airframe and pieces painted. What a dirty job!  The majority is white.  Everything visible from the cabin will be flat black.