Posted 25 Dec 2017 (edited) Super Stol XL (Super XL) buildstarted 9/16Gross weight 1750Engine Titan 0-340. 185 hpWhirlwind propExtended wingsExtended bagage31” bushwheels Edited 25 Dec 2017 by BDA 1 person likes this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 Hey, is this Oratex cloth?? How do you like it?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 I really like it!but, you have to think differently.It is much stronger and tougher - and forgiving.And lung friendly, no painting is good!! 2 people like this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 Looks great Shawn! There have been quite a few guys on here asking about and thinking about the oratex. You are gonna be the go to guy on those questions now hahahah.Looks like you have the shop set up nice. You have a mill or lathe in there? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 (edited) Not knocking Oratex at all - I think it would be great. Only drawback I heard was that the glue turns yellow when heated - That's probably why I would go with yellow or gold for basic color. I think Fred needed some touchup paint for his white? EDMO Edited 25 Dec 2017 by EDMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 I love the super stol I don't care what others say that is one bad ass airplane. It looks to have some Avid in it too by the wing strut attachment. enjoy the build and post some more pics. 1 person likes this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 It has a lot of Avid in it. Just, Kitfox, Ridge Runner, Sky Raider are all direct descendants of the Avid design. 4 people like this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 25 Dec 2017 (edited) It has a lot of Avid in it. Just, Kitfox, Ridge Runner, Sky Raider are all direct descendants of the Avid design.All hats off, and a very merry Christmas to the "Avid-father", Dean Wilson, for his designs! EDMO Edited 25 Dec 2017 by EDMO 3 people like this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 26 Dec 2017 Yes mill and lathe and surface grinder as for the glue - I have not seen it turn yellow.maybe in the sun?I do Know you have be carefull to ONLY put glue where it will be covered by fabric. Or wash it of - WITH WATER! But this is only a problem because you are not spraying that heavy paint all over everything. :) 1 person likes this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 26 Dec 2017 Sweet to see the pics Shawn. Will come take a look see when im home next time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 26 Dec 2017 FuselageAs many times as I tried to screw this up - I am very happy with the results. Not bad for my first cover job.Oratex may not be your thing if you are a perfectionist. Fortunately for me that has never been a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 26 Dec 2017 Some really nice details, BDA.I seriously considered Oratex for the Mangy but wanted bright yellow, not "cub" yellow. So I stuck with Polyfiber mostly for that reason. Probably could have saved 10-15 pounds with Oratex... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 26 Dec 2017 (edited) Just curious - Looks like your HS attaches the same as I designed mine - Is yours also non-adjustable? I had a Kitfox 5 servo setup that would have given me an adjustment there, but took the easy way and just welded in crosstubes - maybe not so easy now, as I need trim tabs. I could still change it and use the HS adjuster. EDMO Edited 26 Dec 2017 by EDMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 27 Dec 2017 Looking great Shawn , you got mama workin hard . She must want to go fly bad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 27 Dec 2017 (edited) Just curious - Looks like your HS attaches the same as I designed mine - Is yours also non-adjustable? I had a Kitfox 5 servo setup that would have given me an adjustment there, but took the easy way and just welded in crosstubes - maybe not so easy now, as I need trim tabs. I could still change it and use the HS adjuster. EDMOOh, BTW - Different strokes for different folks - All that polished "Jeweled" metal is going to blind you if you don't cover it with something - I learned long ago that only bright pretty firewalls are worth keeping - maybe? ;<) EDMO Edited 27 Dec 2017 by EDMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 29 Dec 2017 Not knocking Oratex at all - I think it would be great. Only drawback I heard was that the glue turns yellow when heated - That's probably why I would go with yellow or gold for basic color. I think Fred needed some touchup paint for his white? EDMOYes, I can confirm that the glue turns ligth yellow after polymerization (it might take some time). Once the glue has been heat activated it can only be mechanically removed, meaning that any glue bleeds might need to be painted. This is not a big problem as long as you take some care when applying the glue. On Cub Yellow it should be invisible, hardly visibile on most colors, worst is probably white... As you will need a small tin of paint in your chosen color anyway it is realy not a problem. Knowing it in advance (as once applied and dried the glue is transparent/invisible) will help (would have helped...) 2 people like this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 30 Dec 2017 That is good to know. I have Assumed that any exposed glue wiuld look bad if there is no paint applied. So I have been using plain masking tape to keep it confined. The preglued tapes should make covering all seams and glue easier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 31 Dec 2017 That is good to know. I have Assumed that any exposed glue wiuld look bad if there is no paint applied. So I have been using plain masking tape to keep it confined. The preglued tapes should make covering all seams and glue easier.2 more "wish I had known before" oratex tips...Using plain masking tape the white/light-yellow kind is a good idea. Do NOT use blue masking tape in combination with the glue as it will stain. Luckily that was on the botton of the fuselage and rather limited...The pre glued oratex edge tape is good but not excellent. You should apply glue also on the other surface and this makes things complicated when using pinked edge tape. Pinked looks really nice but you will either end up with glue bleeding between the triangles or with flapping triangles, I have seen it on my own plane and on other's (so it is not just me...). Straight edge tape will obviously help. By generoulsy applyning glue on scrap before cutting it you can easily make your own edge tape.The advantage of the pre glued edge tape is that is softer and more extensible and there fore might be better for particulerly difficult curves like the tail-fin to fuselage negative bend... 1 person likes this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 3 Jan 2018 I decided I did not like the factory lift handle so I cut it of and made a new one for each side - and I made them removeable.First pic is sand in tube to keep it from deforming.So I welded a “pin” to the fuselage that the handle would fit snug on, and welded a short piece of flatened tube to mate with the flatened end of lift handle, and drilled for bolts.This made fitting the fabric much easier, not such a large hole for the large handle. Just small punctures. 1 person likes this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 3 Jan 2018 When your are installing the fabric, you have two pieces of fabric meeting on the longeron. A simple cut and round hole and the fabric fits around the tubes. Same for the other piece of fabric. usually bottom first and then the sides. If you are using envelopes, of course then it's all different. I do have to say that I like the Avid handles way better than the Kitfoxes which are on the top of the fuselage. JImChuk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites