Wheel fairings day 6/ paint canopy skirt

Worked on the nose leg fairing again today. The hinge was cut, match drilled and riveted to the nose leg fairing.  I also painted the inside of the canopy skirt.

Time: 2hrs.

Nose leg fairing bracket

Nose leg fairing hinge placed.

Inside of canopy skirt painted

Wheel fairing day 5

I tried in the complete nose fairing. Then started working on the nose leg fairing. The leg fairing was clecoed in place and holes drilled into the leg as per plans. Epoxy was placed around the holes.

Time: 1 hr.

Nose wheel fairing in place.

Nose leg fairing clecoed in place.

Epoxy added.

Wheel fairing day 4

Continued work on the front wheel fairing. Nutplates were attached. A drill template was place and drilled as per plans. The doublers were then added. Nutplates were placed on the nose fork. The lower wheel fairing was then attached.

Time: 2.5 hrs

Nutplates attached

Drill template

Doublers attached

Nutplates on nose wheel

Bolt placed

Front lower fairing attached

Wheel fairings day 3

More work on the wheel fairings. I removed the main wheel fairings and cleaned off the tape that was placed. The nut plates were then placed on the main wheel fairings. The should now be ready to install later down the road.

I continued with the front wheel fairing. The pieces were fitted together with the strip. The strip had to be bent a few times and the halves trimmed some to get the proper fit. Eopxy was then placed as per plans and the strip riveted to place.

Time: 4.75 hrs.

Main wheel fairing nutplates.

Main wheel fairings complete

Front fairing clecoed

Front wheel fairing strip epoxy placed.

Wheel fairings cont.

More wheel fairing work. A little more time consuming than I thought it would be. I did start today by putting a coat of paint on the canopy frame.

The main wheel fairings were opened where the main gear legs go through. The fairing brackets were then fabricated and the brackets and fairings fit onto the wheels. Epoxy was placed around the screw locations.

While the epoxy is setting I started on the front wheel fairing by trimming the fairings and bending the strips.

Time: 3.5 hrs

Paint canopy frame

Gear leg openings

Main wheel brackets

Fitting main wheel fairings

Fitting main wheel fairings

Epoxy main wheel fairing

Front wheel fairing.

Tailcone / wheel fairings

Started today finishing the tabs on the tailcone fairing. The tabs were riveted to tailcone fairing. The upper and lower pieces were then attached together and fitted on tailcone.  The plans state to place the stabilator on to check fit.  I will need to wait until I get some other helping hands before I do that.

I then put a coat of  primer on the canopy frame. I did a few test of different primers and this one seemed to work the best.

I started on the wheel fairings. The main wheel fairings were trimmed to the line. The main wheel fairings were fitted together and the holes drilled and clecoed together.

Time: 3.5

Tailcone fairing tabs

Tailcone fairing tabs riveted

Fitting of tailcone fairing

Primer 

Canopy frame primed

Main wheel fairings fitted together

Wheel fairings clecoed

Main wheels / axles

More landing gear work today.  B helped me for part of the time. I started by tightening the fork nut on the nose gear. I used a spring scale to get it in the 18-20 lbs range as per plans.  I then disassembled the main wheels.  I placed the tubes and tires on the wheels.  The brake discs were then attached.  I have some questions about whether the wheels should be balanced. Some people say not to worry about others say to do it.  I think I will be on the safe side and balance the wheels.  I have ordered a motorcycle wheel balancer that should work. I will wait to place the wheel on the legs until I have them balanced.

The main axles were then bolted on the legs. I then used a string to check the alignment of the axles. They seem to be right on and there is no need for shims.

I installed the fluid fittings on the brakes.  It then came to my mind as to the fairings and if there is something I should be doing now before I place the wheels on the legs. Sure enough there are some fairing brackets that get placed on the main wheels. So I had to unbolt the axles I just had placed so the bracket could be installed.  Better to do it now than later.  The other brackets for the fairings should be able to be placed at a later time without involving the wheel.



Time: 2.75 hrs.

Nose gear nut

Wheel disassembly

Wheel

Tires on wheels

Axle alignment

Right axle

Fluid fittings places on brakes

Fairing bracket placed on main legs