August 2017 Post
Ready for taxi.
This is now my eleventh Blog Update. If you wish to see this progress in the actual time line, you need to click on the earliest archives on the right since blogs are posted as newest ones first.
A lot has transpired since my last publishing in January 2017, which actually covered up to July 2016. Since then the wings were covered, painted and final installed, wires adjusted and safetied and warp control installed.
As mentioned in a prior blog, I chose to divert from the original covering material, namely linen, to a more modern material, ceconite. Linen only lasts a couple of years in UV exposure and I don't look forward to do this every couple years. Same with paint, modern paints have come a long way and I have chosen to used a Premium quality latex, exterior. Many independent tests have shown this to be an advantageous method. You are putting it on the outside of your house, right ? How long does it last? Plenty.
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Four wing panels ready for covering
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Left outer panel in the rotisserie
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First piece of fabric
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Bottom goes on all the way to the back
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Takes two plus a center strip
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Bottom covered
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Rib-stitched, note one needle per bamboo, reduces travel time.
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Reinforcing tapes over bamboo
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Top goes only to the bamboo
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Sewing where top and bottom meet
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Tapes everywhere
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Trailing edge wire. Not sure how they did it, but seemed like a good idea
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Inner wing panel next
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Before painting, rattan strips were glued and nailed onto every rib cap on top and every second one on the bottom.
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After washing, two coats rubbed-in paint, then one rolled coat
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After first coat of rubbed-in paint
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After second coat
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Completed panel
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Stored, ready for next. 14 foot tall, 12 wide.
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Final Assembly
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Getting panels ready. All drilled holes cleaned and all metal fittings installed
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Both inners are on
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Leveling in order to tweak turnbuckles
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Let outer panel in place
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Ready for panel
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Installing all the wires before lifting in place
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The only place I really needed some help
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Local BOCES students assisting.
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Now to adjust all turnbuckles
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Ready to test the folding mechanism
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No problem
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Installing the warp controls
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Splitter for warp wires
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Note several levels for trimming
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Warp wires competed
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Looking good
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Looking even better
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Moving with custom tail wheel dolly
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Actually fits sideways in my 45 foot wide hangar
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Even enough room for my little Cessna 150
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Final touches
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The Original
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Ready to roll out
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Rolling out
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Ready for taxi.
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