Trim Wire adjustment

After some research online I decided that the wires for the trim in the #31 & 32 position needed to be switched.  So I removed the G3X and switched the wires, put everything back together and tested the trim movement. It moves as I would consider more properly now. When trim up is pushed it will pitch the plane up (not move trim trailing edge of the trim tab up).  I then adjusted the trim speed to get about 29 seconds from stop to stop.

Time: 1.45 hrs.

Trim wire #31 & 32 switched

Canopy cont. / soar pin switch / Tailcone

Continued on the canopy by removing canopy from frame.  The holes were then enlarge to #27 and the front holes countersunk. Guide blocks were then place and the guide plates attached. Canopy handles were then match drilled to the canopy skirt.  The canopy frame is now ready to be painted before I can attach the canopy.

I went back and installed the spar pin switch. I had to purchase the proper size wrench as I didn't have one that would fit the nuts.  Per instructions washer can be added to get the proper spacing for the switch and pin.  I ended up adding 5 washers on each side.

I then went back through the plans to see what else could be done that I haven't done yet.  I decided to start on the tailcone fiberglass.  I spend some time cutting and sanding the fiberglass to the scribe line. It was a dusty mess, but I was able to sit out in the nice cool evening air to do it.

Time: 3.25 hrs

Guide block

Guide plate

Left spar pin switch

Right spar pin switch

Tailcone trimmed

Control stick pushrods

I spent a few minutes finishing up the wiring on the control stick then with the help of N we were able to get some of the flight controls done. We placed the flap handle and flap mixer bellcranks. The control stick pushrods were then fabricated and installed. The flaperon pushrods were next. We then cut apart and prepared the pieces for the detent bracket and the flap handle tube and fork.

Time: 4.75 hrs.

Control Stick 

Flap handle

Flaperon mixer

Flaperon pushrods attached

Flaperon push rods

Flap detent bracket

Flap tube

Control stick wiring

I worked quite a bit today on the control sticks, but before starting with them I finished up the right side wing electrical bracket and plate.

 I had ordered a few different hand grips, but none of them seemed to work right or fit.  I made a little trip to our local Bi-mart as we don't have a bike shop close by.  Bi-mart just happened to have some grips that might work.  I purchased them, brought them home, and put them on the sticks.  They don't look too bad.  Then the part of drilling the end cap for the PTT came. The end caps that came with the grips had some issues when drilling as by the time the hole was big enough for the PTT all the retention of the end caps was gone.  Thinking I would have to buy another set, I remembered the ones I had already bought and ended up using a set of the those end caps.  The PTT was placed on the end caps. Then I spent a challenging 2 hours trying to get the wires through the stick.  Not an easy process. The first one look quite a bit longer than the second. I don't know if the second one was easier or if I just figured out how to get it done.

The sticks were then placed into position and the ground wires were finished.  I am short on a few of the spade connectors, so I will need to order some to finish this part of the plans.


Time: 4 hrs.

Right side wing electrical bracket

Right side cover plate

Control stick with grips

Control sticks with PTT

Control sticks in place

More wiring

More wiring work today.  Most wires have been ran, so it was time to tidy things up.  I installed the wireways near the pedal bar and then went through securing wires with tie wraps. System blocks were installed. The noise filter near the fuel pump was tie wrapped and RTV sealant was place underneath as per plans.  I then worked on tie wrapping and installing the left wing electrical bracket and cover plate.

Time: 2.75 hrs

Wires under panel

Wires over brake pedal bars

Syetms Blocks installed and wires tied

Wires near fuel pump

Tapping Wing wiring bracket

Left wing wiring bracket

Left side cover assembly

Wheel balance / wiring

Started the today's build session by balancing the nose wheel. I had purchased a balancer, but it will only work for the nose wheel and not the main wheels since the main wheels have a larger axle. There is probably way to make it work, but the nose wheel I think is more critical to have balanced. I know many people do not even do this step.  I did have to add 1.25 oz of weight near the stem to get the wheel balanced. Once balanced I installed it back on the nose gear.

I then went back to the wiring. I ran the wires and tubes from the tailcone section per planes. I put together the fuselage wiring harnesses in the panel and also in the tailcone section.

Time: 2.75 hrs.

Wheel balancing

Weights added

Wiring harness

Wiring harness

Fuselage wiring harness in tail

Fuselage wiring in tail (Shrink wrap  will be trimmed)

Run of wires in tailcone

Wires in tailcone

FW day 5/ Wing attach

Worked on several sections today.  I started by running the canopy latch and light wires. I then started section 35 - Landing gear.  The doublers and wear plates were primed as per plans. I installed the brake fluid fittings to the landing hear blocks.I then regressed back to section 30 and prepared the spar pins as per plans. I tapped the pins without breaking them this time.  Then with the help of S, N, and T we were able to try in the wings. It took a little adjustment but we were able to get the left wing to fit and the pins placed.  The right wing took some more work.  We had it very close to going in all the way, but it was getting cold so we will wait until another time to adjust it more.  I will installed the landing gear and then we can try to place the wings again.  It is getting to look more like and airplane with the wings installed.

Time: 3.75

Plastic tube over canopy latch and light switch

Canopy latch and light wires ran

Brake fitting attached to gear blocks

Spar pins ready

Trying in wings.

Fuselage wiring day 4

More wiring fun today.  Started by running the WH-0045 wire bundle. Discovered that the purple gray wire is no purple and gray, but a white wire that has been labeled.  A search on vansairforce.net showed me that information. That was good to know as I was getting a little confused with all the white wires.  I installed the 12V power outlet and headset jacks.  Noise filters were installed by the headset jacks and the fuel pump.  Also ran and installed the rest of the auto pilot wiring. Lots of wires everywhere.  I will go through and tie wrap them once we have all the wire ran.

Time: 5 hrs

WH-0045 Run

12 volt power outlet

Headset Jacks

Wiring for headset jacks

Noise filter and wing wiring

Wing wiring

Auto pilot wires

Rear autopilot wiring

Noise filter by fuel pump.

Fuselage wiring day 3

Was able to get quite a bit accomplished today.  I ran the wires and attached the connector for the autopilot pitch servo and spar pin wiring.  Wires were then ran to locations as specified in plans.  I then started on running the WH-00045 wire bundle.  In doing so, I had ran the previous bundle under the brake pedal bar.  The antennae wires were ran over the bar.  This seemed a little strange to me as I thought maybe the bundle needed to go over also.  After looking through the instructions, it wasn't real clear, but some of the figures later in the section show the wire going over the bar.  So great! I already had some of the wire ran.  In order to correct this I had to remove the brake pedals and place the wires over the bar.  Not an easy task, but with the help of N I was able to get it accomplished. The hardest part was keeping the washer in place.  

Time: 4.5 hrs

Autopilot wires

Spar pin wire

Wires out aft section

Wires ran to right side

Options wire bundle 

Wires placed over brake/pedal bars.