Aeroplane rebuild

[KemppiFrog]

Well, all I can tell you is, I think the guy said it has a Rotax engine??

Very likely, most popular homebuilt engine. Choice of 2T 2 cylinder or the far better 912 series 4T flat four. I built a Merlin with the 912. Two seat high wing.

rtcosic, ours was a Dominie. Difference was the radio op's space behind the pilot. Ours also figured in a drama when an army para got his chute caught by the tailplane and the jumpmaster was trailed back on some static lines to cut him free, then they went down under one canopy. Think the guy got a GM for that one. The damage was in the log books and I remebered it being in the papers. We bought it for £200 (!!) and rented it out for jumpers, later on sold it to the Israelis.

 

[norsa]

Finally got some direct gloss on them. First attempt was a total disaster. Owner told me all I needed to do was key up his special primer and shoot them. Which I did. Now when I say fish eyes.. Whole shoal. Solvent blisters.. total rejection. Seems the whole of the leading edge of the wings and three of the lower panels are fibreglass fuel tanks which the fabric is laid over. Unfortunately, the owner was not told and had not heard of release agent. Need I say more. Anyroadup, after a further nine hours re flatting and a dust coat of epoxy. Boom. On to the fusilage parts. Ally and fibreglass. Life's good

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[mike os]

nice spray booth... looks tidy job too

 

[Lewis_RX8]

Indeed looks like a good setup there

 

[truckdoctor]

Well, as promised, here it is. Don't ask me what it is but from what I can gather from the owner, it's a kit. These wings were my big worry as I've not dealt with them before so absolutely no real idea. He is relying on me as a qualified pro painter and I in turn am relying on his say so as an LAA inspector. Anyroadup, the skeleton is wood with reinforcing tubes and incorporating fuel tanks, air speed, temperature and pressure sensors. This is then covered in a fabric and stitched to said frame, taped over then shrunk to form a tight skin akin to a drum. Next, is an application of a blue anti U/V coating and a high chromate content silver primer. This has all been done by said owner/ inspector and brought to me for final DG finish. Now. The texture of this substrate is as rough as a badgers aris and appears to have been done with an airless sprayer at 3 feet away. and I explained I can't get A) a decent finish, and B) a suitable key. I categorically can not cut through the silver and into the blue or it will have to be done again from scratch. (Good idea in my opinion) but this is a very expensive process. So. He tells me it has to be done 600 then 800 w/d. My advice was not knowing how thick the silver is, this would surely cut through. A compromise was had, I've now de nibbed with grey scotch which has given me the key and has reduced from badgers to mild rats but to the extent I can't tack off because it sticks like velcro. I've now given both wings a final rinse off with scotchbrite under the hosepipe, hung them in the oven, blow gunned and ready for paint which may have to be Monday now. The remaining parts are all glass and ally so more my domain. That's it for now
Nick
View attachment 248292

Great job, your creative skills are excellent. I made something of a similar design with a tube for the spar and steel bent over a timber former for the ribs .No accuracy required as its for the back of my truck.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Any news an what the A/C is called?

BTW, nice booth. We used to spray the wings in an arcon off the main hanger, as we could heat it. That was in the days of cellulose dope and finishes. 'Heady' stuff as well as extremly inflamable.

 

[norsa]

Thanks guys, I'm very lucky to have such a facility. No sorry, I keep forgetting to ask him what it is but I will. Our facility has a runway and hangar so he'll be in and out as I paint all the various bits. The main fusilage came to him pre made and painted but I'm painting all the ancillary parts. Flapperons? Spinners? Tips? Paracover? All confusing to me, just bring em in and tell me what colour you want em.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Full span ailerons or 'flaperons' will hang off the rear of the wings on those hinges.

 

[Mr Fro]

I had a tour of Marshall aerospace in Cambridge and saw the wings on there test bed was incredible to see over 500mm of deflection on a wing

A group of lads from Marshall Cambridge were on my mech eng degree course. They barely scraped the HNC and got booted for cheating shortly after.

If that's the quality of their engineering team then I'm not surprised the wings are bendy.

 

[stuvy]

A group of lads from Marshall Cambridge were on my mech eng degree course. They barely scraped the HNC and got booted for cheating shortly after.

If that's the quality of their engineering team then I'm not surprised the wings are bendy.

was that the reason rover sunk, the dealer support was that bad then?

 

[heldtogetherwithblutack]

here's another kit, could be a winter project for someone
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/321390532307529/
might need a bit more than paint

 

[HopefullySoon]

was that the reason rover sunk, the dealer support was that bad then?

Why Rover sunk was down to many things ...

BMW selling it to Phoenix group (Vulture Capitalists ) for a tenner was the final nail in the coffin .....

The unions helped a lot ... but most of the blame lies with poor product development (how many open goals did rover et al miss !)

The rover tomcat was poetry in motion as a working man !

 

[HopefullySoon]

Incidentally, a mate of mine has a 20 plate (Chinese) MG something or other SUV ...

Not been out in it but had a look over it ....

Imo its equal to a Kia sportage ... slightly behind the finesse of BMW's X3 .

 

[atomant48]

I had a tour of Marshall aerospace in Cambridge and saw the wings on there test bed was incredible to see over 500mm of deflection on a wing

If any of us ever get to travel again look at the wingtip next time you’re up at high altitude and compare it several hours later. How much it drops as the weight comes down relative to the horizon is quite amazing.

 

[norsa]

Few more parts in the oven ready for paint. Apparently the manufacturer is Kit planes for Africa. The model is Safari.

 

[Shox Dr]

View attachment 252133 Few more parts in the oven ready for paint. Apparently the manufacturer is Kit planes for Africa. The model is Safari.

Does he know they use seamed tubing in them things. They doulbe them up where extra strength is required, total pain in a harris welding them. Pile og junk

 

[norsa]

I assume so. He put it together

 

[norsa]

All in white. Red bits next week

 

[norsa]

Bits to prep for epoxy and red.

 

[Mick Annick]

Haha, I guessed you must be at Browns - I used to live in Wantage...