Put the stringers back on the turtledeck for another test fit. It's close... need to trim a few stand-offs and glue on a spacer.
Aug 18
2.2hrs
Glued on top four turtledeck stringers.
Aug 19
2.3hrs
Glued on bottom four turtledeck stringers and then glued the tips of the double-stringers.
Aug 20
2hrs
Glued down the bottom stringer of the double-stringers.
Aug 21
1.2hrs
Glued on top stringer on double-stringer.
Aug 22
1.5hrs
Started gluing on the second layer of turtledeck stringers to build them up to 5/8inc.
Aug 23
1.5hrs
Same as yesterday... just different stringers.
Aug 24
1.4hrs
Glued on the bottom stringer of the two double-stringers.
Aug 25
.9hrs
Glued on the upper stringer of the two double-stringers.
1hr
Glued on first layer stringer for spline on turtledeck. Also... glued the tips of both double-stringers together.
Aug 26
.8hrs
Glued second layer of stringer on spline. Glued tips of double-stringers a little bit further in.
Aug 27
2.1hrs
Slow going... filed the lower, starboard side, bulkhead board so that the transition ply will fit within the turtledeck design and not overhang the fuselage. Trimmed and fitted a poster board test piece; figuring out the exact look still.
Aug 28
1.9hrs
More work on the turtledeck ply transition. I think I got it !
Aug 29
2hrs
Cut and fitted the four pieces of ply for the ply transition on the turtledeck.
Aug
30
2.3hrs
Tweaking the fit of the transition ply. Cut the scallops in two of the four pieces of transition ply.
Aug 31
1.1hrs
Scallops on the second set of transition plys.
1hr
Re-made the lower starboard side transition ply.
Sept 2
1.6hrs
Fine tuning the fit of the lower tranistion plys. Used the T-88 epoxy to seal the area underneath the transition ply.
.8hrs
Cut, fitted, sanded the two glue blocks for the lower transition plys.
1.6hrs
Glued on the lower transition plys. Also continued using the glue to seal the ply baggage compartment.
Aug 3
.4hrs
Sanded down all the squeeze out on the surface of the plywood baggage compartment.
1.9hrs
Sealed the backside of the two upper ply transitions then glued on the port side. Continued using the T-88 for sealing up the wood.
.9hrs
More sealing up of the ply with T-88. Can only use a small squeegee to get access between the stringers.
Sept 4
2.1hrs
Trimmed the upper ply trans so that it was centered on the spline. Glued and trimmed to size the port upper ply trans then used the rest of the mixed T-88 to seal more of the turtledeck.
Sept 5
1.3hrs
Started to sanded/blended the points of the scallops, on the ply transition, to the stringers. Needed to go back to a few areas an build the gap up a little. Placed all the stringers into position for a looksee.
Sept 8
.9hrs
Modifying the saddle gussets.
Sept 9
1.6hrs
Figuring out why the lines aren't right on the turtledeck. UGH !
Sept 11
.9hrs
Measured, cut and fitted paper template for the upper wing fuel tank skin.
Sept 12
.5hrs
Rolled out and marked the aluminum sheet for cutting the sking of the upper wing fuel tank.
Sept 13
1.7hrs
First cut of the aluminum sheet for the upper wing fuel tank. Yeah... when you're nipping the material away it takes a lot longer.
Sept 16
1.7hrs
Another length of aluminum cut.
Sept 17
1.9hrs
Final length of aluminum cut for the upper wing fuel tank.
Sept 18
.5hrs
Cleaning up the cut lines on the upper wing fuel tank skins. Re-marked and cut one edge tonight. Still have another two to go.
Sept 19
.5hrs
Marked and trimmed 2nd edge on one of two fuel tank skins. Discovered that there wasn't enough room to re-cut third edge so I kept it as is
Sept 20
2.8hrs
Started marking up the skins for the upper wing fuel tank. Marked the bend lines, beading lines and rivet locations. Still need to mark the holes for the fuel lines, vent line, drains and fuel cap.
Sept 24
.9hrs
More markings on fuel tank skins. Need to trim ends so that I can do an overlap weld. I'll cut back each side 1/4inch so that I can leave the end ribs out 1/4inch for the weld.
Sept 25
1.6hrs
Taking inventory of what needs to be done. Also marked the end ribs for the overlap welds and trimmed the 1/4inch off the ends of the two fuel tank skins.
Sept 26
1.6hrs
Started searching for riveting information. I don't have any books on it and there isn't much in Tony B's books. I'll have to look on line. Filed and sanded the edges of the fuel tank skins.
Oct 1
2.1hrs
Measured, marked and glued up the stringers for the re-do on the turtledeck (I wasn't happy with how the stringers came off the baggage area back to the tailcone.
Oct 2
1hr
Cleaned up the stringers that I glued up last night. Looked at the turtledeck to determine how I was going to do the re-do of the stringers.
Oct 7
1.1hrs
Cut off and notched the first of many stringers on the turtledeck.
Oct 8
.9hrs
Second turtledeck stringer cut and notched. Ready for gluing.
Oct 14
.6hrs
Third one done! (getting quicker at it)
Oct 15
.9hrs
Four turtledeck stringers re-done !
Oct 21
.6hrs
Bottom stringer on the port side of the turtledeck cut, notched and ready for gluing.
Oct 22
.6hrs
Second stringer on the port side of the turtledeck cut, notched and ready for gluing.
Oct 24
.6hrs
Third stringer on the port side of the turtledeck cut, notched and ready for gluing.
Nov 1
.2hrs
Did something... don't remember now.
Nov 2
.6hrs
Last stringer on the port side of the turtledeck cut, notched and ready for gluing.
Nov 6
.7hrs
Glued on first two turtledeck replacement stringers.
Nov 7
.5hrs
One more set of turtledeck stringer re-do's glued on.
Nov 11
.6hrs
Another set of turtledeck stringer re-do's done. One more set to go.
Nov 14
.5hrs
Trimmed stringers so that I could begin figuring out attach points (they were too long and hitting the vertical tail).
Nov 15
1hr
More fitting... sanding shape of stringer at glue juncture. Overall, just tweaking the look and figuring out where to connect to fuselage.
Nov 17
.5hrs
Shaping and sanding the stringers. Decided that the lower two re-do's don't work (look right). I'll be re-doing those four again.
Nov 18
N/A
Ordered additional cap strips for the four turtledeck, re-do stringers.
Nov 19
1.1hrs
Made jig to cut the holes in the tubes that will support/adjust the leading edge on the horizontal stabs.
Nov 29
2.5hrs
Notched the four holes in the two tube that will support the front spar of the horizontal stab.
Dec 3
.5hrs
Figuring out the horz stab connections
Dec 4
1.2hrs
More figuring of the horz stab connections. Read the section in the Skybolt manual that talks about the length of the .375x.o65 tubing. It suggest welding on tringular sections of tubing and then drilling and welding on the lower bushing into the tubing instead of the plans suggestion of welding onto the longeron/cross tube. Reamed the two lengths of .375x.065 tubing to 1/4inch.
Dec 5
1hr
Cut the two triangular parts to support the lower bushing that will allow the front spar on the horz stab to be adjustable. Cut this out of .75x1x.o49 rectangular 4130. Notched the ends to allow them to fit up with cross tubes and longerons.
Dec 11
1hr
Tacked and started welding on the triangular gussets that beef up the area for the front spar of the horizontal stab adustment/attachment.
Dec 16
3.5hrs
Cleaned off fuselage, flipped and welded bottom side of trianle gussets.
Dec 17
.3hrs
Getting fuselage ready for flipping. Clearing out space on sides of tail so that I can fit the horizontal stabs on.
Dec 18
.5hrs
More of the same...
2014
Jan 13
N/A
Worked on the project... ain't putting down the time. Looking for the plans sheet for the horz stab attachments. Finally found it then horsed around with placement of the stabs. So... I worked on it, but not putting down the hours worth of "fooling" around with it.
Jan 14
.8hrs
Figuring out the location of the horz stab attach points.
Jan 16
.4hrs
Figured it out... see above post.
Jan 20
1.2hrs
Confirmed location of rear horz attach. Ground the bottom of the vertical tubes to allow horz tube to sit tangent to the fuselage. Confirmed square by measuring the outside points of taped in tube to the firewall (equidistance). Tack and weld tomorrow.
Jan 21
1hr
Reading up on the front attach for the horz stab. Put in over an hour...
Jan 25
N/A
Researching front attach for horz stab.
Jan 26
1.5hrs
Decided on how to do the front attach for the horz stab. Re-cut the 3/4inch tube and cut the 7/8inch tube.
Jan 28
.9hrs
Aligned and rosette welded the 7/8inch tube to the 3/4inch tube. Ready to mount.
Jan 29
1.6hrs
Straighten the sleeved tube by reheating. Set up the drill press to drill both 3/8inch holes.
Jan 30
1.1hrs
Aligned the starboard horz stab to find the location of rear attach point. Spot welded the vertical tubes of this attached.
Jan 31
2.1hrs
Aligned and tacked on rear horz stab attachment. Repeat !
Feb 1
2.2hrs
More alignment of horz stab attachment. Got it to the point where I could tack and finish weld the piece.
Feb 3
1.4hrs
Measure, cut and fit of port horizontal stab.
Feb 4
1hr
Did what I did yesterday to the starboard stabilizer.
Feb 5
N/A
Study plans, ask questions. Got answers.
Feb 6
.9hrs
Aligned, tacked and welded in both vertical tubes in the horz stab front attachment tube.
.3hrs
Reamed vertical tubes to 1/4inch.
Feb 10
1hr
Drilled holes in elevator horns to the correct 7/8inch, not the 3/4inch that I had.
Feb 11
.5hrs
Put in a little over an hour looking for a piece of aluminum big enough to make the spacer for the elevator horns then made the pattern. Ain't putting down the .5hrs looking for the aluminum.
Feb 12
.7hrs
Set stabs in position, mark then cut down front stab spar tubes.
Feb 13
1.1hrs
Set stabs in position, mark then cut down both elevator tubes. Look GREAT !
Feb 14
1.6hrs
Marked and cut the horz stab's front spar to fit up with the front attach tube.
Feb 15
2.3
Leveling and squaring up the fuselage and stabs for locating the position of the front attachment.
Feb 18
2.2hrs
Confirming - squaring up of stabs.
Feb 19
1hr
First hole in stab front spar (port side).
Feb 20
1hr
Second hole in stab front spar (starboard side).
Feb 21
.5hrs
Found the top-centers on the back horizontal stab spar. Marked them and then put the starting holes with a centering bit.
Feb 24
.7hrs
Drill both holes in horz stab rear spars and then ream to 3/16inch.
Feb 25
1.3hrs
Measured and cut insert tube for elevator spar. Removed port horz stab and drilled rosette hole for welding in insert tube. Replaced stab back on fuselage.
Feb 27
.3hrs
Rosette weld elevator front spar to sleeved tube.
1.3hrs
Marked and ground out the area that I will position and weld in the lower bushing tube for the horz stab front attachment.
Feb 28
1.7hrs
Spent 2hours, but some of that was running around looking for and figuring out stuff. Came up with a way to keep both tubes for the front attachment aligned. They each have different ID's. Took a small 4130 rod to the lather and cut the OD down to two different sizes.
Mar 2
.6hrs
Aligned the first of two vertical bushing for the horz stab attach. Measured and marked the placement of the bushings on the horz stabs for the flying wire attachments.
2.8hrs
Welded on and reamed out both vertical bushings for the horz stab front attachment.
Mar 3
1.5hrs
Drilled all four holes in the horizontal stabilizers for the flying wire attachment bushings.
Mar 4
2hrs
Cut and fitted vertical tail brace. Drilled 5/8inch hole through metal for fitting too.
.7hrs
Welded in vertical tail brace.
Mar 5
1.8hrs
Cut and fitted square tubing to hold forward bushing in place for horz stab upper flying wire. Welded into place.
Mar 6
1.6hrs
Re-weld on last night's business. Also aligned and drilled hole for the upper, rear flying wire. Welded 1.25inch bushing into place.
Mar 8
.9hrs
Cut and squared up 4th horz stab busing on lathe.
1.5hrs
Welded on all four bushings to horz stabs.
Mar 10
1.5hrs
Reamed out all four bushing on elevators. Match drilled elevator horn spacer to both elevator horns.
Mar 11
1.4hrs
Discovery. The radius on the ears of the elevator horns aren't tight enough. Unable to make fix. Will need to remake both elevator horns.
Mar 12
1hr
Glued on patterns and rough cut and ground to shape both elevator horns.
Mar 13
1.3hrs
Filed both shapes to size and cut the 1/4inch and 7/8inch hole in one horn. Still haven't bent it to shape.
Mar 14
2.1hrs
More work on the two, new elevator horns. Got the first two holes in each drilled and the ears bent.
Mar 15
3hrs
Worked on it 3.8, but the unibit wasn't doing it's thing too well. Wasn't happy with the two horns I made yesterday so I started over again today. They're rough-cut, then drilled and now filed to size.