A little progress XL H-58

[Wayne Munich]

I was flying home one horrible black night in a friend's bonanza. the copper oil pressure line broke, filled the cockpit full of oil smoke. We were over water at 1600 agl. aimed for a rotating beacon and got it on the ground. lost 5 quarts of oil. The line also had a vibration loop in it. he replaced every line on his planes with hose. all my planes also had hose.

[Kamcoman77]

What if you made a bracket for the sender and mounted it to the block instead of the engine mount? That way the copper line would not be asked to flex continuously. The only thing vibration might affect is the electrical connection on the sender.

[Wayne Munich]

I like where you mounted the sender, just don't like the copper tube. BTW the plane looks great, you are a real craftsman.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I like where you mounted the sender, just don't like the copper tube. BTW the plane looks great, you are a real craftsman.

Thanks for the kind words, Wayne. I could use nylon tubing.. this is just what was locally available when I was shopping for the sender change. I, too, had a copper line break on a street rod I'd built.'39 Chevy. At night in the rain, of course.  I never knew it until the lifters started rattling. Hoo boy! Did that make a mess. I didn't have the loop in the line, and it was a less than hair raising lesson compared to night over water. 
I *seriously* doubt this little ship will ever be more than 15 minutes from my strip. It's just a toy after all.

[Wayne Munich]

The nylon tubing sounds good. there is no heat there and you can use the same fittings. Pressure is not an issue either.

[Chuck in Indiana]

 

[Kamcoman77]

Looks great! Love those wingtip "flaps".

[Chuck in Indiana]

Spent the day putting in the "real" hardware.  Naturally, the root fittings are the hardest, and I spent all morning putting in three bolts. Not too bad, really, with ream fits and close tolerance bolts everything has to be just right to go together. I remember a guy helping me when I was assembling the Great Lakes, and it took us 6 hours to install one..

Still haven't decided on the bullet nose art, but it's growing on me. I have the aileron pulleys installed with used bolts. They would be good for another 50 years, I suppose, but this is getting all new hardware. (shrug) Once I get them, I can rig the ailerons, and it will be mechanically complete. Still need to cover the center section. So far, I'm thinking about gutter flashing..
<rant.1> I see guys on facebook talking about flaperons and Fokker ailerons.. Another has a 360 lb. Legal Eagle. (!) Are all facebook people clueless about airplanes? <rant/0> 
I should post this picture and mention that every ounce makes a difference and this rod is titanium..

If you are not adding simplicity and lightness, you are screwing up. 

[Dan_]

I bet it is getting hard to be humble around there...  Looking dam fine..!

[jrbirdman47]

You should have gone with Unobtanium. Half the weight of Titanium and twice as strong. And stop critiquing my FB posts, it hurts my feelings! She's looking really good! I've been smoking over your pictures trying to imagine an engine mount. I'd like to make it fit a run-up stand and then transfer directly to the plane since the engine will be here long before the fuselage is ready and I'd like to try a few things. Beautiful work and I'd definitely go with the bullet.

[Chuck in Indiana]

That's one vote for the bullet.  Thanks, Mr. Birdman. *Don't* use my engine mount design as a pattern. I have no idea whether it will work or not. (shrug)
Ailerons rigged and saftied.


Lots of wing..

Still have to make the jury struts and fittings, hook up fuel lines, and *somehow* cover the center section.

[jrbirdman47]

Like you, I am considering using aluminum flashing to cover the center section. While daydreaming about it, (you know, at work), I was thinking of some sort of mounting that would allow easy removal. I was thinking of a strip of "stick on" velcro(c) between the wing and cover but if it were strong enough to hold it on would likely mangle it when removed. Trying to avoid more structure within the wing to receive screws. What did you have in mind for attachment?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just offhand without *really* looking at it.. you could wrap the leading edge and have a pk screw in the spar top and bottom. A little careful fitting, and you could have a fold at the trailing edge to go underneath. I would think small pk screws in the plywood between the two butt ribs would hold it down. From memory (always dangerous at my age) a 10" strip of flashing would do it.
Of course, you "could" just cover it with fabric if you don't plan on removing the wings. You could slit it down the edges and baseball stitch and tape it together if you absolutely *had* to remove the wings.
Just food for thought while sitting here on a cold dreary day..certainly too cold to go out in the hanger.   

[Chuck in Indiana]

Made up the jury strut fittings and one strut today. Doesn't look like much, but took about 4 hours.. 

Another bite off the elephant.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've said many times that having the right tool is about 2/3 of the job.  Many years ago, I struggled to put two Adel clamps together for entirely too long. Been there, done that? Just cut a slot in a piece of sheet metal, clamp the legs of the Adel together, line up the holes, and slide the sheet metal tool over.

You're welcome. 
Painted the fittings, installed the jury struts, and "airspeed indicator."