Activity Stream

Posts Activity Stream

  5. lostman

    Posted

    Does anyone have a transponder that they could let go of? I'm looking at purchasing an aircraft but I live under the dang mode-C veil of the local class Bravo ring and will have to install one to be legal.

     

    Obviously I would prefer something small and inexpensive, I would say cheap, but I don't want junk either! ;)

  12. RDavidson

    Posted

    To All Beware!

    I bought a partially built avid Magnum that already had the fuselage and control surfaces covered with Superflite. So I put a lot of work into the wings to get them ready for covering. I bought Superflite's instruction manual and DVD and read and watched them several times. I called Superflite and asked some final questions and asked them for any advice. They told me to start on something small, but I only had a wing to start on.

    The manual, on page 5.3, says to mix 2 parts U-500 (Glue) and 1 part MEK. The DVD shows the graphic from the book with 2 parts U-500 and 1 part MEK, HOWEVER the narrator says "2 parts MEK to 1 part U-500" THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE!

    I figured the narrator misspoke and I was wrong! It is misprinted in the book and in the graphic on the DVD.

    Of course I figured this out after covering my wing with the wrong mixture. It resulted in me covering the top of my wing with fabric only to find some unsightly and uncorrectable glue under the fabric.

    So, I had to undo all of my fabric and glue work. I had to use MEK to scrub all of the glue off of my wing. It took two days and I have to re-paint some of the wing.

    Here is the most outrageous part...I'm still steaming over this!

    I searched the internet to see if I was the first to discover this. On another forum for Rans and super cubs I found that this mistake has been in the manual since at least 2009! Many people have done the same thing I did.

    I called Superflite and they directed me to a friendly fella named Randy, their technical help. I told him the story and he had heard it before, he asked me if I had the new manual and I said yes. He said that he was sorry, and had no control over what the main office does, but he was surprised they had reprinted the same, known, mistake!

    I called the main office and told them about the mistake and they basically said "oh yah, that is wrong..." There was no offer to make things right by reimbursing me for the glue or fabric.

    To be fair, I didn't push reimbursement, I intend to write them a letter. I just wanted to move on!

    Why don't they add a piece of paper to their book with changes? Or have a warning on their website? Or for heaven's sake, tell me when I call and ask for first time advice?

    So for anyone reading this...you should use a mixture of "2 parts MEK to 1 part U-500". Randy said that mix is a ball park starting point, but you don't want the glue to be too thick, so add more MEK the longer you work with it because the MEK is evaporating. If you make my mistake, the glue will be too thick and you will have to remove it...not fun!

    I'm sure they have a good product, but I'm having a rough start!

    Thanks,

    Ron

    post-545-0-73340600-1389844745_thumb.jpgpost-545-0-57404800-1389844798_thumb.jpg

  13. 1avidflyer

    Posted

    You're right Ed, the axel is for a grove gear.  I think they are available from Grove for about $75 each.  When I put Kitfox hubs on my first MK IV, (stock tube gear) I had to take out the Avid 3/4" diameter axels, and put in slightly longer 3/4" ones.  Jim Chuk

     

    PS  Leni,  there was some question about whether you or your brother John was going to use  them, but I'm sure I sent them to you.  It might have been 5 or 6 years ago now. 

  15. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Polyticksians,  Joey

    - Poly = Many

    - Ticks = Blood-sucking Parasites

    Really sorry that the ones in Washington are trying to screw the military retirements too.

    I bet if it was their retirement, they could find it in the $1.1 Trillion  they plan to spend this year!

    EDMO

    1 person likes this

  16. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Thanks Rod,

          Looks like the rear spar is at same height in both, so tops should be OK - just bottom profile different - don't see why it wouldn't work - just look different on bottom.  Ribs on each side of tank could be built up to match profile.

    EDMO

  17. stressedout72

    Posted · Edited by stressedout72

    Ed it's not "they won’t work", the tanks I manufacture have a slight variation in the wing profile and if you want to fly then I say go for it and make it work. That’s what experimental is all about.

     

     

    Here is the difference between the 2 ribs types we deal with so here is a STOL rib and a flat bottom "Speed" rib.

     

     

    1609800_676476832374380_846354507_n.jpg   1555425_676476852374378_115334483_n.jpg 

    1560651_676476865707710_1675118933_n.jpg  1535657_676476889041041_1343856057_n.jpg

  18. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Thanks Leni,

           What is the size for a 30" airstreak - My 8.50 x 6 airstreaks are not that big, but they are heavy!

         Lostman,

                 That axle looks like a Grove, and is made to fit the Spring Gear, and the holes are different than the original  Kitfox tubing gear - Most of the kits just had a plain tube for the axle, but I have one set with a solid bar.

    Grove makes axles in several different bolt patterns.

    EDMO

  19. akflyer

    Posted

    I just got a chunk of .750"X .250" 4130 from the local supplier and had the local machinist turn the threads in the end for mine.  I had to make longer axles when I went to the big tires.

     

    Ed,  I had 26" blimp tires on mine originally, but they are WAY heavy.  I have 30" airstreaks for it now that are about 1/2 the weight of the blimp tire.

     

    :BC:

  24. akflyer

    Posted

    I have the matco wheels on mine.  They come as a 2 piece but I added a couple of 1" wide spacers in each one for my big tires.  I ahve not seen a matco that looked like the douglas.  The matco has the bearings built into the wheels and does not require the hub that is shown on ebay.

     

    :BC:

  25. EDMO

    Posted · Edited by Ed In Missouri

    Leni,

           I had a set of Matco W-62, three-piece wheels once, and they were clearly marked.   Is there a Matco wheel that looks like the Douglas, and how do you tell them apart?  No separate hubs?  I have a set of Douglas? now, I think, with my KF1 - my FF has Grove wheels/brakes.

    EDMO