Aug 03, 2022     Paint Scheme - (20.4 hours)       Category: Paint / Decals

Laid out paint scheme on fuselage. Took pictures and measurements. Fuselage will go back in the spray booth, get its final coat of Ecofill, and the silver metallic top coat. Then taped and covered for the green. I needed to lay it out spinner to tail first, only the bare fuselage fits in the paint booth. For the trim stripes and N numbers, still some indecision on the color. Light gray metallic or stick with the Green.

  Jul 29, 2022     Rebuilt lower cowl - (41.3 hours)       Category: Cowling

I rebuilt my lower cowl due to some cracks at the mounting screws. I had dimpled for flush screws where I had previously used a shrinker. I also didn't like the job I had done reinforcing around the cowl flaps. Turns out I was going to have to do this anyways. I discovered during the rebuild that Ineeded to move the cowl flaps from the tunnel area to the sides of the cowl due to interference with the mufflers. I think this may turn out to be a better location. Took a lot of time to accurately locate holes to match the ones in the firewall and on the cowl doors. Built another set of cowl flaps. Formed NACA ducts from fiberglass and high temp epoxy. The plastic ones don't survive well inside the cowl.The NACA ducts supply air to the heat muffs for cabin heat. Permanently attached the lower nose bowl to the lower cowl with 1/8" soft rivets. Faired the intersection so it looks like one piece. Made a nice fit between the upper and lower nose bowl which required several session of filling and sanding. Primed and painted through the silver top coat.

  Jul 20, 2022     Built oil cooler support frame. - (11.2 hours)       Category: Engine

I purchased an Airflow Systems 2008X 17 row oil cooler. Decided it needed to be mounted on the firewall, was planning on the left side of the firewall. Forgot about the engine driven fuel pump. It will mount low on the firewall behind cylinder #3 and be fed with a 4" scat tube. Support frame was made from 1"x 3/16" aluminum angle.

  Jun 22, 2022     Received Aircraft Registration - (1 hour) Category: Research

Had heard stories about 6 month delays to get an aircraft registered so sent my paperwork in. Turns out homebuilts are given priority because there are no pink slips to send to you. Received it in 3 weeks.

  Apr 01, 2022     Seat adjusting mechanism - (2.1 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Completed seat adjusting mechanism. I believe my solution is easier than the kitbuilt method.

  Mar 28, 2022     Shock strut streamline fairings - (2.4 hours)       Category: Landing Gear

Primed and painted visible parts of the shock struts Cut shock strut fairings that I received from Bearhawk Aircraft to length and glued them to the shock struts. Reinstalled shock struts on plane for now. Will be making fairings for the 2" diameter spring housing at the top of the struts next.

  Mar 25, 2022     Proofing Design/ Received completed panel - (16 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Was surprised how much supervision was required in getting the panel exactly as I wanted it. Went through five drafts of cad layout to get it right. Spent hours checking the drawing PDF at full scale on the screen, ruler in hand. Despite "black text" being clearly marked on the drawing, the panel came back with white text. I immediately called Superior Aircraft Components to let them know. They offered to redo it, I talked them into a $300 discount instead. Funny thing is I think I like the white better. There are a couple little issues. They didn't drill the 1/4" holes for the ignition warning LEDs, and one of the attach screw holes. The N number is located too high right next to an attach screw (that one is my fault). They moved the annunciator cutout from where I had it to where an attachment screw was supposed to be. They never showed the attachment screw holes on the drawing, if they had, that wouldn't have happened. All in all I am happy with the panel, can work around the minor issues.

  Jan 10, 2022     Instrument Panel Layout - (18 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel

Spent a great deal of time on laying out the EFIS, radio stack, and switches on the instrument panel. My goal was to have the electrical bus switches and ignition switches on the far left. They generally are set for startup and not manipulated again until shutdown. Light switches, pitot heat, fuel transfer pumps were located under the radio stack. Dimmer switches for the panel to the far right. My infinity aerospace control sticks have the start switch, fuel boost pump, cowl flap and strobe switches as well as controlling four avionics functions. Difficult decisions were made on locating the engine controls. Ended up leaving them on a sub panel. A last minute decision was made to include the audio panel in the radio stack instead of a remote unit. Ready to send the panel to Superior Aircraft Components for cutting, coating and labeling.

  Aug 09, 2021     Oil Door - (12.5 hours)       Category: Cowling

Cut out opening in center cowl for checking the oil. Used joggle dies in beading roller tool to joggle the edges for a flush oil door, after modifying the beading tool to reach further. Fabricated door with hidden hinge and latch.

  Aug 03, 2021     Installed main fuel tank left wing - (3.5 hours) Category: Wings

I had considered putting a Bob Archer VOR antenna in my left wing tip, which would have required running coax behind the fuel tank. Finally made the decision not to, so did final (hopefully) installation of main tank.