the making of a dominator

[dimwit]

Well construction has began on my dominator. I started machining the walking beam clamp yesterday. I hope to cut my cluster plates out tuesday and then I'll just keep going from there. Having fun already.

[GyroDoug]

Larry,

I am way excited to hear you are already started on your Gyro. It is obvious you are very committed to getting into the air. I think keeping a running commentary on how you are doing is a great idea. However, have you ever heard the term: "a picture is worth a thousand words"? You really need to start taking some pictures of everything you do and sharing them here on the forum.

I look forward to watching your progress and learning from what you go through. Keep us up on as much as you can. Best of luck!!!!

Gyro Doug

[TomCarlisle]

A running commentary and pictures are VERY helpful at the time of the AW inspection and also when applying for the Repairman Certificate!

[dimwit]

I have some pictures. As soon as I figure out how to put them on the forumI will.I'm not to savy with computers.

[Racer]

dimwit, This will help you post pics, Works good http://www.irfanview.com/

[dimwit]

39507 Here's a picture.
I had to retake it at home I had my camera on to high of a quality setting and it was to much for the file. But these are the brackets the the walking beam attaches to up on the mast.
I was going to shear the cluster plates the other night but the shear was broken. Hope it gets fixed soon.

[dimwit]

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The shear was fixed yesterday. So today I went ahead and sheared my clusterplates. The next step will be to make my airframe jig so that I can get the holes drilled in my plates and start on the main gear.

[ultracruiser41]

The fun begins!

Looks good!

BarryK

[Racer]

Good start Larry, Keep up with the pics, we love that kinda stuff.
If you would like to join the Colorado Rotor craft assn Chapter 9 let me know an I can fax you an app. it is $12.00 a year
Call if you want Todd 719 499-2378

[dimwit]

Can A guy join two chapters at the same time. I was planning on joining the utah chapter 2. But if I can join both that would be great I live right in the middle of both. Thanx.

[GyroDoug]

Can A guy join two chapters at the same time. I was planning on joining the utah chapter 2. But if I can join both that would be great I live right in the middle of both. Thanx.

Larry,

You can belong to as many chapters as you want. Not only do I belong to PRA chapter 2 but 2 EAA chapters. I feel like I can use all the help and all the contacts I can get. Someday you will want to start a PRA chapter in WY, but until then, do all you can to learn how it works and what it will take to get one going locally. Then start working on a list of everyone you can find in WY that has a Gyro or an interest in having a Gyro. As time goes on your list will grow and you'll know when it's time to start a chapter closer to home. Best of luck!!!

Gyro Douog

[dimwit]

I made these the other night. It's been the first time in three weeks that I've been able to do any work to farther the build. But I'll be able to put a little more time into it here in the near future. I also cut the blocks to start making the jigs to cut and weld the main gear. And I've been practising my tig welding. But here are some pictures of the gear attachment brackets.40201

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[GyroDoug]

It's exciting to see the first few parts start to take shape. Keep us informed. Best of luck!!!!

Gyro Doug

[dimwit]

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Here are some pictures of the jig I made so that I can cut and weld the main gear for my dominator. There's one thing that I'm finding out. If you follow the plans the fit and finish is not as good as the drawings look like. Or it could be that It was'nt intended to be built with+/- .001 tolerance.?????
But so far it's coming together very well.
The next step will be to weld the brackets to the landing gear tubes. And then make the right side gear. I'll do the welding at home and in the mean time I'll start machining the walking beams at work. And then start on the front landing gear assembly. At the same time I'll try and get the airframe cut and drilled. So that I can get everything bolted up and make sure that it all fits correctly.

[Brent_Brown]

I like your work.

[Falcon]

Looking good, I want to build a littlewing when I am done with mine. Do you do your own welding? What type of welder do you use?

Gary

[dimwit]

Yes I'll be doing my own welding. The machine I have at my house is a Lincoln idealarc 300 I'll be using a weldcraft WP-9 tig torch with a 1/16 tungstun with ER80S-D2 tig wire. You can get the welding proceedures from lincoln electric"s web site to weld 4130 chromoly steel. It's pretty simple the biggest thing to remember is to let it cool very slowly once welding is complete.

[dimwit]

40626Well as you can see I've been busy working on more landing gear parts. I've started on the first of two walking beams. I've changed the proceedure of building them but the out come will be the same. I've also started on the forward wheel fork. I have to remake one part thats not in the picture, had a OOPS. I'll be changing the front fork alittle just to accomidate a 1/2 in. axle rather than a 1/4 in axle. I'm hoping that over this long weekend I'll get started on some of the welding.
I would have got to work on it today but I ran out of time so next week I'm going to try and get the airframe and cluster plates cut and drilled.:rapture:

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[dimwit]

[
ATTACH]40645[/ATTACH]
The picture shows the drawing of the main gear strut. The wheels that I'm going to order are the Asuza 6" aluminum with brakes from aircraft spruce. I'll have to change the axle a little instead of a 3/4" tube for the axle I'll machine a 5/8" solid axle out of 4130 steel. The best I can tell the plans call for a 1/4" front axle. I ordered last night the 5" asuza aluminum wheel for the front. It comes with a 5/8" axle. I'll use a 1/2" axle with a 5/8" O.D. sleeve. The rear wheels are the same size as the wheel barrow wheels that the plans call for they just look a little better. The front is a inch bigger than what the plans call for.

[dimwit]

I'll post pictures as the parts come in and build advances.

[MikeBoyette]

Looking good!!! Just remember those plans are from the early 90's. Some things on have been changed on the factory ships. One example is the walking beems are now machined out of 6061T6 instead of 4130. Dad probably needs to look at updating the plans. The problem is the drafter that made them died about four years after he made them. Good luck I look forward to seeing your progress.

[dimwit]

Thats funny you mention that. I was thinking about trying something with the walking beams using 6061T6 but I figured that I would stick with the plans on them for now and possibly make changes later. But there are alot of changes that I would like to try. But I'll make the build first and then go from there. Thank you Mike for your input

[MikeBoyette]

Hey Larry,
He also went to a 6 in. wheel on front and 8 in. wheels on the mains. This gives better ability to take off on really rough fields.

[dimwit]

Thank you Mike. Any input you have is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[dimwit]

Up to this point I have posted my build on this site. Reason being is that I talked to Doug and he get me pointed in the right direction and I went to his house and saw his gyro in the makingand pretty much made a new friend. But if I was more computer savy I would have noticed that the RFD site is not the web site for RFD but a forum site for Dominators and that is what I'm building. And maybe I can get a bit input from people that are familiar with the dominator, cause believe it or not I do like to here input.

[GyroDoug]

Larry,

Your doing great, just keep on doing it exactly the way you are. Starting this thread under the RFD Section would have made it easier for others to find it when looking for threads about Dominators but there are plenty of people who are aware of it already and watching your progress. Lots of guys on the forum have experience with Dominators and will be glad to help or offer information if asked.

The rest of us learn from the things you post and the answers you get to your questions. So it really turns into a great learning experience for all of us. There are lots of people who just lurk out there reading posts but rarely posting anything them selves. So even though it may seem like only a few people are involved in this thread there are more than you might think. Your up to nearly 1,000 views so far so rest assured people are paying attention to what your doing. Best of luck!!!!

Gyro Doug