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.

Four wing panels ready for covering 

  

Left outer panel in the rotisserie

  

First piece of fabric

   

Bottom goes on all the way to the back 

 

Takes two plus a center strip

 

Bottom covered

 

Rib-stitched, note one needle per bamboo, reduces travel time.



Reinforcing tapes over bamboo

 

Top goes only to the bamboo

 

Sewing where top and bottom meet

 

Tapes everywhere

 

Trailing edge wire. Not sure how they did it, but seemed like a good idea



 

 

Inner wing panel next

 

 Before painting, rattan strips were glued and nailed onto every rib cap on top and every second one on the bottom.  

 

 

After washing, two coats rubbed-in paint, then one rolled coat 

 

After first coat of rubbed-in paint

After second coat

  

Completed panel

  

Stored, ready for next. 14 foot tall, 12 wide.

 

 

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Final Assembly

 

Getting panels ready. All drilled holes cleaned and all metal fittings installed

  

Both inners are on

 

Leveling in order to tweak turnbuckles

 

Let outer panel in place

 

Ready for panel

 

Installing all the wires before lifting in place

 

 

The only place I really needed some help

 

 

Local BOCES students assisting.

  

  

Now to adjust all turnbuckles



Ready to test the folding mechanism

No problem

  

Installing the warp controls

  

Splitter for warp wires

   

Note several levels for trimming 

 

Warp wires competed 

  

Looking good

  

Looking even better

   

Moving with custom tail wheel dolly

  

Actually fits sideways in my 45 foot wide hangar

Even enough room for my little Cessna 150

Final touches

The Original

Ready to roll out

 

Rolling out

 



Ready for taxi.