RDavidson

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Everything posted by RDavidson



  1. RDavidson added a post in a topic New Avid Magnum For Sale - N712GW   

    Felix,

    She is a beaut!
    What engine do you have?

    I'm still building mine, so I haven't made or found a POH yet. I bet somebody on the yahoo forum has one they made. Are you part of the yahoo group yet? The site sucks compared to this one, but some guys haven't made it over here yet and still follow that site closely.
    I think I have the complete Magnum Manual, so if you need something let me know.
    Great looking Magnum, enjoy it!

    Ron
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  2. RDavidson added a post in a topic Legal advise   

    Get the Police and FAA involved...that A-hole doesn't need to be flying!
    The Owner will never get enough money to replace his plane and suing people sucks! More hassle than it is ever worth and it takes so long that you find yourself stuck thinking about the bad situation for longer than it is worth! Plus, the lawyers take such a large chunk that it would not replace the damage!
    Punish him with jail or losing his ticket, Please...Nobody else needs him doing that to their plane.
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  3. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Thanks Randy. No worries on being late, you were doing what I want to be doing...flying! Those are great pics you posted!
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  4. RDavidson added a post in a topic Winter Rivers Tour   

    Great pics!
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  5. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite revisited   

    Av8r3400,
    I think it is easier/better for the reasons Randy stated, but the lack of user references make me give it a thumbs down for a first time user. I'm sure that after I finish this project, I will have a full understanding of how to use their product and I will argue that it is better than the others, because I used it Isn't that what we do here? Ha!
    The big advantage I see in using Superflite comes after taping. Instead of poly brush and poly spray coats, Superflite uses a UV primer that is sprayed. Also, Superflite top coat is shinny unlike the original Polyfiber finishes...but I think Poly fiber has a new line of shinny finishes or at least I thought I heard that.

    Randy,
    It is good to know that the Polyfiber paint is compatible, I mean it should be, all the chemicals are basically the same.
    So did you use poly brush and poly spray then the poly top coat?

    I know that Superflite is proud of their paint, and of course the colors I like are the most expensive colors!

    Randy, did you run a tape over your false ribs? I'm asking a little late because I already did it, but I would like to know for future projects.
    I wasn't going to do it, but I was worried that just the fabric covering the false ribs would get worn through.


    Thanks,
    Ron
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  6. RDavidson added a topic in Avid Magnum   

    Superflite revisited
    Hey guys,

    I just wanted to revisit my comments on Superflite and update my opinion.
    I got off to a rough start, as stated in a previous thread, when I discovered that the glue to MEK mixture was printed incorrectly in the manual and DVD. I had already coated my wing with the wrong mixture so it took me a couple of days to clean all the glue off...not fun!

    Now, I have almost finished the tapes on my first wing and I am really happy with the way it is looking! I have used The Polyfiber system in a class and on a small covering job and the two systems are very similar through the taping stage. Superflite might have a small advantage because it's glue is tinted bluish green and that makes it easier to see the glue saturate the fabric.

    More cons...there isn't much support for this product. There are very few you tube vids using superflite and the manual is very generic. So, I have had a lot of specific questions that I can't find answers to.
    Another con is their reinforcement tape. It is less porous than the Polyfiber tape and I don't like how the glue sits on it.

    Anyway, here are some pics of the progress. By the way, rib stitching was not as difficult as I had remembered, but after a hundred or so knots it mysteriously gets easier




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  7. RDavidson added a post in a topic I love experimentals   

    Looks really good Joey, and looking good is half of going fast!
    Where did you find the plastic caps?
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  8. RDavidson added a post in a topic New Avid Magnum For Sale - N712GW   

    Congrats Felix! Post a pic when you get a chance. I would like to see how far along it is.

    See ya,
    Ron
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  9. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Randy and Larry,

    You guys answered a question that I have always wondered...why is the cabane V always so low when you are trying to get higher clearance with a bush style gear? So, they are lowered to get rid of some of the direct force to the frame. Makes sense to me.

    Randy,
    Thanks for the drawing, it helps keep Mongo's brain from hurting
    I am going to stick with what I've got, like you suggested. I can always beef it up later, or fix what I break. I don't think that will happen though. The guy that helped me design the gear geometry has been building cub gears for years and he really put a lot of thought into it as well, and his only additional input was that the cub had a larger diameter tube for a seat truss and that I should beef it up. Your stitch welded bar idea filled that bill!

    Larry,
    I've seen a picture of your vertical bar idea. I can't remember if it was on this site or somewhere else. I seem to remember that the person using it was very happy with the results! I'm going to track it down, and post it when I find it.

    Thanks guys, I'm getting more out of this than I expected! I appreciate it!
    Ron
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  10. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Randy,

    So, you feel that other than the extra bar that I welded in, I should leave the rest alone...seat truss and sides correct?

    I am not an engineer so I appreciate the input. From other projects I have worked on it seemed like strengthening in one place often just transferred the force somewhere else, and taking the flex out through strengthening often led to ultimate structural failure. So I realize that there will be a lot of ideas that seem to contradict each other because it is a thin line we are walking, not to mention that this is completely custom and untested.

    The suspension I'm using is basically rubber pucks that compress, I think somebody called it the Hydrosorb system? Anyway, it probably has a maximum compression, but it won't be abrupt like metal hitting metal when a spring bottoms out. Also, the cabane V and the suspension are lined up.


    Thanks for the input everyone, this is very helpful!

    Ron
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  11. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Thanks guys, you gave me a lot to think about.
    Jim, thanks for the explanation of the forces applied. I didn't think the V was getting a downward force, but now that you made me think about it, that makes sense.

    Ed, I'm convinced and I ordered the steel today.


    Thanks again,
    Ron
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  12. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Ed,
    I just found the thread and pics that Av8r3400 posted of his Kitfox, where he reinforced the sides with .032 sheet with 2" lightening holes. I like it a lot! Is this what you were talking about?


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  13. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Ed,
    So you think the sides need it to? I thought they would need it, but most of the threads I have read just talk about the seat truss.

    Jim,
    Thanks for the pic, it is truly worth a thousand words.
    So you are saying that you would add a vertical bar from the bottom of the seat truss to the deepest part of the "V", is that right?
    Is that so the upward force would go into the middle of the seat truss?
    I looked at your plane, but can't tell, are you using bungees? It looks like you have a taller gear too?

    I appreciate the input.


    Thanks,
    Ron
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  14. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Well, I took Randy's advice and stitch welded another tube under the seat truss tube. I used the same diameter tube but with a thicker wall. I attached the ends of the tube to my front gear mounts. It is strong as hell, so something else will bend before this does.

    My question is...should I still reinforce the seat truss with glued in plywood? It would be easy enough to do at this point.

    Thanks for the ideas!

    Here are a couple of pics



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  15. RDavidson added a post in a topic Wings, metal leading edge or no   

    Hey Jon,

    I'm building an Avid Magnum and I live in Pueblo West too! Small world! I'd love to see your aircraft. I'll send you a pm with my info.
    I have the plastic leading edge on my uncovered wings if you want to see what it looks like. I also have a fiberglass top leading edge that comes back about a foot on my wings, I think it adds a lot of unwanted weight and the fiberglass was a bit wavy too.
    I saved a pic of someone else's aluminum flapperon horn covers. I will post it here for you, but I don't know much about it, it just looked like a good idea.

    See ya,
    Ron


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  16. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite Instruction Manual Mistake!!!   

    It is a tight fit under each other Ed.

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  17. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite Instruction Manual Mistake!!!   

    Doug,

    Thanks for the words...I was really angry, but I'm over it. I just don't want others to make the same mistake!

    Here is a question for you...they proudly display an FAA stamp on the front cover, does that mean that the FAA approved the process, or the final product? If it is the process how could they allow incorrect instructions? Since when does the FAA not regulate every aspect of maintenance? You could argue that because we are Experimental it does not apply, but Superflight is used on certified aircraft too.

    Finch tips...they are very sharp! They have grabbed my shirt more than once! Ed, you are right, they could be downright dangerous at eye level, that is an argument for a taller gear I guess you could round off the tip if you wanted?
    They are going to look good though.
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  18. RDavidson added a post in a topic Superflite Instruction Manual Mistake!!!   

    Ed,
    You are right, I have friends that have used the Stewart system and love it, plus it doesn't have those nasty chemicals!
    I didn't want to cross systems since my fuse and controls were already covered with Superflite.

    Next time it is Stewart all the way!
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  19. RDavidson added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Superflite Instruction Manual Mistake!!!
    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


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  20. RDavidson added a post in a topic CONTRIBUTIONS TO KEEP SITE GOING   

    Me too! Thanks Leni! I just sent you some $ via paypal.

    Ron D.
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  21. RDavidson added a post in a topic Back in the air   

    Good to have you back safely Joey!
    I sent you a message via FB, but just in case...I just, today, got around to UPS'ing the glue to you. Sorry for the delay! It should be there early next week.

    Happy flying,
    Ron
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  22. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    @Randy,
    Thanks for the idea, I think I will do that!

    @dholly,
    I've got severe back issues, so I built the rotisserie so that I can easily rotate the fuselage. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It made welding new gear mounts on the fuse really easy.
    Unfortunately I had just moved and had scrapped my scrap metal pile, so I had to buy all new steel. All together I spent about $500 and about 1.5 days building it. I welded some harbor freight swivel casters on the bottom so the whole thing can move in any direction making it easy to get it in and out of the garage. It is the best money spent so far! I have to give credit to Ivan Allen, I stole some ideas from his rotisserie!
    Here are some pics...no laughing at my welds

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  23. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Thanks Randy...you answered a question that I had...I was thinking about strengthening it with glued in plywood panels in the seat truss. Is that enough?
    They are not removable axles. I didn't know that was an option...I can see that it would be handy.
    Thanks again for sending me the numbers on your gear! I really like the height of the gear, it will probably reduce the risk of me taking the flapperon in the cranium!
    By the way, the guy that built the gear didn't want to put the middle leg on my gear because the back leg was so long and he was afraid the center mount would reduce the flex of the back leg. However, he welded the step bar in because he thought the back leg might flex too much without it. Whatever? I'll try it like it is and go from there!

    Thanks,
    Ron
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  24. RDavidson added a post in a topic Magnums with Airdale Bush Gear   

    Well, it has been a long while, but I thought I would update this post. I decided to design my own gear but have somebody else build it because I wanted it welded right! I can weld, but I thought the landing gear was too critical for me to experiment with! That being said, I had to weld brackets on the front mounts to provide attach points for the cabane V. The gear measures 32" Tall and 73" from axle plate to axle plate. I stole rough numbers from Randy because I liked the AoA on his Avid.
    Steve Furjersi at Experimental Aircraft Fabrication inc built the gear for me, and I bought his unique suspension system too. He is a great guy and he really helped engineer a cool gear for my Magnum.
    I'm attaching pictures, so take a look, and throw spears if you have them, because I want all of your input!

    Thanks,
    Ron


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  25. RDavidson added a post in a topic Just bought Avid Catalina N157AB   

    Great Purchase! Looks great!
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