Warbird Information Exchange

Thank you Brandon -- I'd never noticed that, because it doesn't come up if a user is not logged in and I'd never checked off the "log me in each visit" box before. Actually I'd wondered why this site didn't have a "view posts since last visit" button of some sort... Duh...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Lately, I've not been able to do much work on Another Solution, due to my job and all. So yesterday I came in somewhat early, before I had to go to work, and tinkered with the racer a little bit. I finished wet sanding the top of the left wing, so now both wings are ready for paint on top. I just need to wet sand the bottoms of the wings before I can actually do the painting though.

After I finished with the wet sanding yesterday morning, I thought it might be a good idea to temporarily install the ailerons. You see, they were a real nice, tight fit (so close, that I could only get only a couple pieces of paper in between the counterweights and trailing edge of the wing) when I got the project and there was no covering on the wings, so I got to thinking that with the fabric, the tight clearances that were there might get even closer. I was right. It's interesting to me that everything is so close that it just barely rubs, because this wing has flown before after all. Surely they didn't race it before with the aileron counterweights rubbing the trailing edges of the wings. Either way, I'll do some minor adjustments to the aileron counterweights before everything is permanently installed, but I'm glad I checked it now.

It is starting to look pretty good though.......










I was going to tinker with the floorboards on the airplane this morning, but I didn't get here early enough before I had to stop on the racer and do real work. I would like to replace all of the wood in the fuselage (floorboards, formers, and stringers) with something just as strong, but lighter. I was going to use some of the left over scrap pieces of composite wafer board that we used on the floorboards of the B-29, but only one of the scrap pieces was big enough to use on one piece of the floorboard. I don't have a gazzilion dollars to go and just purchase this stuff at the bulk rates the airlines use, so if any of you have any ideas on where I could pick up some 1/4"-1/2" thick carbon fiber or aluminum wafer board sheets (or any other lightweight/strong material) at poor mechanic prices, please let me know.

Below is an example of what I'm talking about. First is a picture of the floorboards, then a picture of the composite wafer board scrap I have here......






So until the next update, that's all I have for now.

Gary

Gary,

The mini-course on fabric work, is probably the most useful thread that I have seen in the WIX.

It is especially useful to me, since I will have to do something similar to my PT-19 when the time comes for it.

Thank you!!!


Tulio

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Why take the best part of life out of your life, when you can have life with the best part of your life in your life?

I am one of them 'futbol' people.

Will the previous owner has pics of this double cabin sample

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Sooooo, how am I going to know to press 1 or 2, if I do not speak English????

Great to see it coming along Gary.

Any chance of the ailerons binding when the wings have an airload on them???

We've discussed that possibility, and sure, it's possible to have some amount of flex when flying around and pulling G's, but it's a very minimal amount (based on discussions with other builders & racers of Shoestrings and similar aircraft). However, with that being said, I'll insure there is plenty of room between the aileron counterweights and trailing edge of the wing before I fly it.

Gary

In terms of leaving room for free movement, at what point would you run into drag issues from air disturbed by the gap? Could you seal a larger gap with tape or whatever sailplanes use to seal control surface gaps and get the same effect as the apparent original close tolerances?

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Yeah, I'll get the gap situation all worked out. It's not a huge problem, and I've pretty much got it figured out already and have gotten the ailerons to where they don't snag whatsoever. It seems that the counterbalances were a touch loose and had moved forward a bit. Before I cover the ailerons, I'll be sure to replace the hardware holding the counter balances on and then check the fit again.

Gary

Thanks for the update, Gary -- as usual, interesting & informative!

a lot of saillanes use mylar gap seals

Well I got here at 0430 this morning to work on the little racer, but due to work related items, I didn't actually get to touch the airplane until about 9:00 or so. Kind of a bummer. So anyway, all I've been able to accomplish today was to wet sand the bottom portion of the right wing. This went along without a hitch and it's really starting to look pretty good.

Two things of interest were that I just picked up a paint sponsorship and one of the local newspapers is showing interest in this little project, which will hopefully get more of the locals and/or their businesses interested in becoming part of the team, sponsorship-wise.

With the help of Matt Jackson, I was able to secure the paint sponsorship through PPG Paints. The paint was ordered yesterday afternoon and I'm told that it's already on it's way! Awesome!!!

The Odessa American Newspaper has picked up on the "Another Solution Story" here on WIX and is going to run at least one story on the project, and possibly a short series on it. I've worked with the folks at this newspaper quite a bit in the past with B-29 and B-24 related items, and they are a nice bunch of folks, particularly the photographer, and are trying to get the word out to the Midland/Odessa area that we have quite a bit of neat aviation related things going on right here in the middle of West Texas. Mark Baxter was kind enough to snap these shots of their photog snapping a few shots of me doing some miserable work...sanding..........






I can't wait to get these wings done so that I can get started on the rest of the airplane. I'm still waiting on the tail section to get here , but the work on my engine and the carbon fiber parts, such as the cowlings, turtledeck, wheel pants, etc., are coming along fine. I hope to have them all within the next month or so. I'm still going to be a bit short on funding for completion of the racer at this point, but WILL get it done. I have some great folks on board with me now and I won't disappoint them.

Gary

When you start working with the carbon/graphite, make sure you use a resperator and wear gloves. The graphite will splinter in to very fine slivers that will stick in your skin like fine cactus needles and you will spend several weeks getting rid of them. Trust me on this, I know.

And always was in cold water if you get the dust on your skin. Warm water will open up the pores and let the fibers work their way in.

Thanks for the tips, y'all. I gotta tell you, I'm not even a little bit excited about working with that compost...I mean, composite stuff. I've finally resolved that it's strong, light, and really the way to go here, but if I had time, I'd rather just build everything out of aluminum.

Gary

I cannot believe that I forgot to mention this in my earlier posts...

I want to thank fellow WIXers, Steven Dennis and Bill Coombes (Old Shep) for becoming sponsors in Another Solution with their generous donations. I simply don't have the means to acheive this completely on my own, so y'all pitching in to help is HUGE to me! Thank you!!!

Gary