MVP

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:43 am

Major Visible Progress!

As Wicked Stick requested, here is my canopy picture.

My camera broke so all I have is the cell phone.

I am REALLY pleased with the product thus far!

The canopy really is a moving target and kinda hard to shoot... I think I am getting it though!

Thanks to Vlad for assisting me and noodling this thing through!

CJ

Vlad · Post by **Vlad** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 5:07 pm

Getting there Jonh! Remember - EVERY DAY!!!!! and there will be nothing left to do.

ABC

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:29 pm

Vlad, It almost looks as though I know what I am doing!

CJ

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:39 pm

Looking great! I'm right behind you.

Vlad · Post by **Vlad** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 3:58 am

Bruce and John you guys are both perfectionists. Finish that canopy thing while it's still warm outside. I did mine in the middle of brutal winter, the electric bill for heating the garage was a shock to my landlady

She survived, I gave her a ride recently and asked if she remembers that bill. She does

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:36 am

Very nice work CJ....

I must say though, this is going overboard on inspecting a paint job!!!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:40 am

Bruce,

Looks great!

You are only a day behind me!!!

I gotta go out into the shop now!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:18 am

Vlad, Nuttin' to it but to do it!!!

Brian, I think I was looking at the shape of some rivets inside the wingtip and the method of attachment. I still need to do my wingtips.

Although the paint job was certainly better than anything I could ever do!

Black planes do look cool!

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 7:36 am

Brantel wrote:Very nice work CJ....

I must say though, this is going overboard on inspecting a paint job!!!

I really think it's just his aging eyes...he's trying to SEE the airplane!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:02 am

Hahaha at first I thought it was a boat!

CJ

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:16 am

Vlad wrote:Bruce and John you guys are both perfectionists. Finish that canopy thing while it's still warm outside.

You obviously haven't seem my version of "perfection".

I did some more trimming of the canopy last night. No need to heat anything here in inland San Diego county. The ambient temperature of everything in the garage is about 85F. I did my first cuts outside in the sun and the plexiglass was reading about 115F.

How far back from the start of the curve that forms the canopy bubble did you end up at? I taped off and started my cut last night right where the transition of the canopy shape starts. I know it is an iterative process, but I don't want to kill my air compressor with all of these little cuts.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:55 am

I cropped off right to the base of the curve. That is where it needs to be. I marked it, cut it and belt sanded to the line.

Your compressor will get a workout on this job for sure!

I have a 240 volt, 60 gallon standup job and it is just enough!

You do have a portable belt sander, right?

That is a "must have" item for this job!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 3:11 pm

...and an update!

I now have a tip up canopy! Sure, it needs all the stiffeners and bolts... but it tips!!! The trimming is all done!

Bruce, it really isn't that bad. Just take off anything that isn't a canopy! Here is what it looks like:

CJ

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 6:58 pm

I'm thinking that I will glue mine down with Sixaflex. Haven't figured everything out just yet...
I see you left the "ears" on the forward canopy skin. Any need to cut them off before the big cut?
It will be hot here until late October, then it will go back to being just pleasant for our 2 weeks of winter. I've got plenty of time to cut this thing.

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:43 pm

Great MVP for you guys! I recall the first time I had the plexi cut to shape and was able to open and close the canopy. A real special milestone that gives a little boost towards the finish line.

Congrats

Pittsbuilder · Post by **Pittsbuilder** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:05 pm

Excellent work guys!! I cant wait until I am cutting mine... Gotta get this thing done, my list of airplanes to build keeps getting longer... But the list of finished ones isn't getting any longer

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:21 am

Bruce, Those ears stay on the forward skin. I opened the slot up like Mike Bullock did (www.rvplane.com) and it really allows the plexi to nest onto the forward skin a WHOLE LOT BETTER!

Brian, I was just now sitting inside the project for the first time with the canopy closed! Ummmm, can I now stop calling it a project and begin calling it a plane?

That Bearhawk on floats is getting a little closer every day! I still won't sell the RV though. I "NEED" 2 airplanes!!!

CJ

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:23 am

Dan and I fully intend to build a Breezy together as our next plane... I had the brilliant idea yesterday that we should get some floats for it and make it a Sea Breezy

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:23 am

OH!

Bruce, I am planning on bolting all around except on the leading edge of the windscreen. THERE I will use Sikaflex.

Seems like a good "belt & suspenders" kind of approach to me!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:14 pm

bruceh wrote:I'm thinking that I will glue mine down with Sixaflex. Haven't figured everything out just yet...
I see you left the "ears" on the forward canopy skin. Any need to cut them off before the big cut?
It will be hot here until late October, then it will go back to being just pleasant for our 2 weeks of winter. I've got plenty of time to cut this thing.

Bruce, I am surfing the web now and see that at least several builders are cutting the ears off!

Whose website are you looking at?

Chadley! I am gonna ping yours now to see what you did. I promise, I won't steal your identity!

CJ