VR3- CNC'd tube kit

[JaViDsgn]

Greetings from Newbie in Peru,
Planning on the LEU.  Has anybody used this company in Canada that offers an LEU and LEXL tubing kit, all tubes sizes precision cut, bent & notched with CNC. Link & attachment below.

VR3 Engineering, 505 Wright Blvd, Stratford ON N4Z 1H3 Canada
"VR3 offers a range of pre-cut aircraft tube frame kits for popular classic and experimental aircraft – even an ultralight frame"

https://vr3.ca/technical-documents/?mdocs-cat=mdocs-cat-1    half way down the page, LEU & LEXL

Thanks, JV

[Jon Miller]

Hi JV,

Looks impressive! I just ordered all of the materials from Aircraft Spruce.  I paid $1018 for the fuselage tubing, and another $2000 for the remaining items.  Shipping is $270 from their southern California store to my Northern California home.  Do you know what the kit price is from VR3?  Hopefully WAY more than $1018, or I will be really sad......

Jon

[spacemedic911]

I recently requested info on the tubing kit from VR3 and this is the response that I was sent:

 

Thanks for the inquiry and speaking with Manasa.

The following is our proposal to supply a tube set for the 4130N tubing components for the Legal Eagle XL version.

Attached is a pdf drawing showing our current tube set configuration for the Legal Eagle XL.

Note that most of the empennage is aluminum tubing which is not included in our current supply.

Also see items 8, 9, 10 below regarding welding and shipping of a welded tube frame.

You are most welcome to visit or pickup at our shop anytime.

 

1. Legal Eagle XL tube kit:               $ 1800  (USD)

     * VR3 kit no 39381

     * includes the 4130N ‘chrome moly’ tubing components for the fuselage, landing gear, tail feather attachment and rudder pedals

     * includes pre-bending of the two lower longeron tubes with 2 bends each

     * includes pre-bending of the upper longeron (tail) tube with one bend

     * includes roll forming of the upper seat cross tube

     * 143 pieces per kit, approx 40 lbs

     * includes holes, pilot holes and slots in tubes where practical (ie: landing gear, tail attach)

     * now also includes the landing gear brackets (8 pcs) laser cut from sheet material (item 106)

 

2. Packaging, Shipping and handling:

                a) to mainland US destinations :                $ 350 allowance

                                Typically via UPS ground or commercial carrier. Includes shipping and brokerage fee     

                                The 2 lower longerons are approx. 13 ft long each. It is more practical for packaging and shipping to supply these two parts in two pieces each with a splice. See drawing. A snug fitting internal splice tube is provided.

                                Allow 5 to 7 days for shipping

                b) to overseas destinations (Europe):       $ 800   est’d   /  tbd

                                subject to final package sizes and weights

                                 typically via air freight UPS / DHL / FedEx ....

                                 Includes freight and handling

                               Does not include taxes/duties/fees of destination country     

                c) pickup at our shop, Stratford, Ontario, Canada

                                price:     no charge

                d) to Alaska,

                                price:     tbd      $ 500 allowance

 

3a. Summary Pricing of a tube kit only:    qnty 1 set  (delivered to mainland US destinations):

               Items 1+2a

            = $ 1800 + 350    ( mainland US)

            = $ 2150 total

                *** there are no additional fees or taxes ***

               

4. General Notes:

               a) Tubing material is 4130N aircraft quality tubing

                b) Tubes are ready for weld assembly ‘out of the box’.

                c)  All tubes are labeled with part numbers, description and order information.

                d) The longerons are pre-formed with the bends.

                e) Kit includes well organized assembly drawings and material list.

                f) Tube kits include the tube parts and primary fittings, but not the miscellaneous bits and pieces

 

5. Manufacture schedule:

          Tube kits are generally available in 2 to 4 weeks following receipt of order information and subject to work load at the time of order.

 

6. Payment methods:

                a) check / cheque by mail  (USD)

                b) electronic bank transfer

                c) credit card  (VISA or MC) for orders < $1200

 

7. Order Processing:

                a) Confirm that you would like to proceed with a reply email identifying which kits you are interested in acquiring.

                b) Provide complete contact information. Home address, phone contact, email, shipping address, etc

                c) We will then assign a job number and email an invoice to you.

                d) Confirm your address and shipping information.

                e) Customer arranges payment.

                f) Payment must be received before shipment.

     *** Note that the purchaser must own a set of plans from an authorized supplier prior to purchasing a tube kit.

     *** One set of plans provides the rights to build one aircraft.

 

8. Weld Assembly of Legal Eagle tubing kit:

                VR3 provides welding services for all our tube kits.

                Allow $ 2500 for the weld assembly services for this Legal Eagle XL tube kit. This is in addition to the tubing kit above.

                The main concern is packaging and shipping as these are 'light weight but bulky' welded tube frames

                Therefore, this works best for customer pickup at our shop (southern Ontario / 3 hours from Detroit)

                Allow 3 to 6 weeks for weld assembly of a Legal Eagle XL fuselage frame. Subject to workload at time of order.

 

9. Shipping of the welded frame :

Packaging and shipping to Ohio

Frame ‘only’:  approx 160” lg x 30” wide x 46” high x 40 lbs

Plus  ‘skidding’

This would ship using a local contract carrier from our shop to your destination.

                Price:     $ 1400

 

10. Summary of welded frame (Legal Eagle XL)  pricing::

Tube kit                $ 1800

Welding               $ 2400

Shipping               $ 1400

 

Total      $ 5600

 

The quality and convenience of our tube kits is unprecedented. Our tube kits save the builder many hours of tedious and frustrating labor and months of build time. You will also save time and money on tooling for cutting, measuring, grinding and fitting tubes and time designing and building fixtures. This also allows the builder to concentrate on doing a good job welding in a clean shop where progress is steady with the best possible quality. Our tube kits include tube parts only and not the flat or formed sheet pieces so there is still 'tinkering' for the builder.

[pappyadkins]

Don't forget to check Wick's

[Jon Miller]

I am STILL waiting for my materials from Aircraft Spruce after placing my order 5 months ago.........

Given their nice catalog, and fancy full page ads I had high hopes.  I did not look at their on line reviews until today.  That was a mistake.

Hopefully VR3 is more prompt.

[pappyadkins]

Good luck either way.... To me VR was too high, especially after I built my own... cutting pieces was difficult at all... you can watch my videos if you think you want to give it a try... I think #7 shows how easy the coping can be...

[Dan_]

Here is a link to said youtube channel... 

https://www.youtube.com/@davidadkins1926/videos

P.S.
If you can read this you should like and subscribe to Pappy's channel

[pappyadkins]

Thanks Dan for watching... Funny thing, I was actually considering this same kit... So glad I didn't, besides that - I wanted to add the 1" top clearance so my head / headsets wouldn't keep hitting the top bar & a few other extras I added I wouldn't have been able to make those changes with the kit... Personally, I'd be more worried about the welding then the making of the tubes... But, I wouldn't discourage anyone either way as long as they get started building!!!!

[Chuck in Indiana]

I am STILL waiting for my materials from Aircraft Spruce after placing my order 5 months ago.........

Given their nice catalog, and fancy full page ads I had high hopes.  I did not look at their on line reviews until today.  That was a mistake.

Hopefully VR3 is more prompt.

Hmmm. I have complained loudly about Aircraft Spruce shipping charges, but normally they ship promptly. In the words of the infamous Chinese airline pilot Sum Ting Wong  I'd be on the phone with them.(shrug)