Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
I'm sorting out the engine mount, which has to be drilled to accept the engine mounting bolts (standard grade 8 bolts, btw), and it's an example of "hold your breath" moments. If I drill the holes in the wrong place the mount is ruined. If I drill the holes to fit the engine but they're not on the center of the firewall (too far up or down) I'll mess up the line of thrust and the plane will fly crappy.
Measuring distances between holes is not my forte, and there is a lack of information on the spacing on the web. Everyone seems to go from engine in the box to on the plane. What I need is to ensure I'm spot on.
Well, my solution:
I took a wooden yard stick and drilled it, fitting it through holes on the engine itself. There was even a nice center line on stick to guide my holes.
Eleven inches is the answer, and you'll note that on the left one I did bad math and drilled one 12 inches - hence the "NO" annotation.
Not shown is the cross members I glued to it to form a template, and it shows that the mount was made perfectly - center of the supports that hold the bolts. Not shown is the fabrication of bushings to offset the engine by an inch and a half from the mount.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Strange they don't include a template to use when drilling the holes - just a piece of sturdy paper should be enough I think.
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the universe is for it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
I cut a such a deal on the Firewall Forward (FWF) engine and prop setup that I think they cut their costs by not including any manuals - I think they went back home from the Gardner, KS airshow last year (where I blurted a low ball price and to my surprise got a handshake on the deal*), looked at the price agreed on, and palm slapped themselves.
But I asked them to slow walk the engine build, which meant that they could work on it between normal customers and include it in their bulk purchases they normally do after Oskosh.
At least I think I got a killer deal. They don't publish a price on anything but their top of the line engine, and almost everyone I've talked to gets really quiet on what they paid for theirs....afraid that either they paid too much or the other guy did. I had looked around and took the price of a speed shop's bug engine, added the price of a prop (which they do list), and 25% overage for labor.
Fortunately, I owned a terrible Bug back a zillion years ago and know how to maintain the engine. Bug engines are almost bullet proof if one checks the valve clearances regularly, changes the oil, spark plugs and wires as needed.
* Yes, there are still businesses that work on a handshake. Valley Engineering is a small family run one, and are beloved in the home building world in general and WWI replica one in particular. They also own Culver Props, and the one they cut for me is gorgeous.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Sh1t's getting real when you're about to mount the engine! Good luck, Dart. I'm sure it will be fine as you've been taking it nice and slow. It's been a real pleasure following your build, especially since you've shared all the details of your problems, solutions, temporary failures and eventual successes. Cheers, C_G
looks very modernishy-phoney-windows eighty-tabletty like
Asus P8P67 Pro Rev. 3.0 // i5 2500k @4.3 GHz with Noctua NH-D14 // nvidia gtx 780 // 8 GB DDR3 1600 //Win7 home 64 bit //450 GB VelociRaptor //Recon3D Champion
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
The first heart attack phase is done, though. There are a few "hold your breath" moments in building, where there isn't a tolerance for error and one gets a single opportunity to do it right.
Drilling holes in the longerons - the spines of the aircraft fuselage - for the cabanes that hold the upper wings was a prime example. One can't just replace a strut or tube and do it over; if it's drilled wrong, the only fix is to take the fuselage apart and replace it....taking it back to square one.
Putting the holes in the mount to fit the engine was one of those, too. Granted, screwing it up meant buying a new mount, but what a PITA!
On the Big Build Thread over on the EAA forums, my goal was twofold. First, to show all my work so people can step in and cry foul when I do something wrong, which has happened more than once.
Second, it was to show another first time builder about to start the challenges and setbacks of building. It's rare for a website or thread dedicated to a build to show technique and, more importantly, errors. Or when they show an error they had to fix, they don't show how they did it.
I have super thick skin when it comes to criticism in the build. Even when it's pedantic (such as the long conversation about my blue trim and how it should be gray), I take it as an effort by others to improve my work. I've usually taken advice and used it, and even when I went another way it was from a position of knowledge, knowing there was another path. Comments about some of my more, um, rough craftsmanship are always fun - sometimes they're right and I could (and do) better. But I never set out to build an award winner.
All of this gracious humility will go out the window the second she gets her airworthy certificate, though. Then any criticism of my Bebe will be met with that of a proud parent being told their baby is ugly.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Every time I look at your threads, I get the itch to build a Nieuport or Pup.
If and when I do, I plan to study in detail how you overcame the obstacles in your build...I hope you leave the pics and thread up as it's got to be about the best "how to" on building one of these I've seen.
I finally got signed off in the Citabria after putting it off for ages. I think I've got the tail dragger bug.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
Plans drawn out for the "doghouse" behind the starter - which actually fit through the hole I cut - and I'll make it tomorrow. Then I'll mount the starter and think about the oil cooler mount.
Then it's a double check and touch up of the wings and out to the airport for help on the fuel and electrical systems.
It's kind of surreal to be this close to the end.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
The only work that needs to be done at the house is fabricating the oil cooler mount; the rest will be done in the hangar under the eyes of experten - the electrical and fuel systems.
I know just enough about how they should be put together to know that I'm over my head on those.
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 24,712Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Dart
Measured in Llamathrusts
Lifer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 24,712
Alabaster, AL USA
They aren't shelving brackets. They're rudder pedal stop reinforcing assemblies.
To keep the rudder pedal from going to far and whacking the rudder against the elevator, there's a bolt that is attached to the firewall and reinforced with some plate:
But there's some give to the firewall that I didn't like that lets the bolt move, so rather than fabricating a reinforcing guide I sourced one that was already made:
The nuts on the end let me do fine adjustments without having to mess around with the turn buckle (and the safety wiring of it).
The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.
That armed P-51 you mentioned. Twilight Tear .50 Caliber Machine Gun Testing
The owner was forced to destroy the receivers? by the ATF since he didn't have a FFL. Being more than just a little well off he paid to get a FFL and then had new receivers made for the guns.