Brian Jackson
03-29-2005, 09:36 AM
Greetings, All.
Next week I'm having the foam cores for the QB Tail CNC'ed. I've re-designed it slightly after having spoken with a gentleman here whom taught me about offsetting the fin/rudder to compensate for helical propwash. I'm grateful for that knowledge, and glad I waited before lunging forward with it.
I'm working on a design now for the matching Instrument Pod, which I hope to have the foam cores CNC'ed concurrently with the QB tail, though there's no rush or anything. Attached is an image of the preliminary design. A couple of the shots make it appear much larger than it really is because I zoomed way in on a perspective view. As is, the whole unit is only 11" wide, and is designed around (4) 2" micro-instruments, with the rectangular area under the middle two gauges for a digital Rotor Tach.
The front panel is slightly concave, radiused about the pilot's head while the "shell" encompasses the depth of the instruments, leaving the forward "tip" to house and internally mount the pitot tube. The recessed "ridges" in the shell add a bit of strength, though for something this small probably aren't necessary.
With the horizontal arrangement of the instruments, I wanted to keep its plate area as small and aerodynamically neutral as possible to keep it from acting as a "canard." Also, I haven't yet determined its exact placement or mounting method on the keel.
Anyway, in seeking guidance, I'm submitting this to the Forum for criticizm, critique and suggestions from those in the know. I love the idea of fabricating my own instrument pod, but if there's something I'm overlooking or am ignorant of, I'd like other's input before I invest any more time and resources.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Regards,
Brian Jackson
Next week I'm having the foam cores for the QB Tail CNC'ed. I've re-designed it slightly after having spoken with a gentleman here whom taught me about offsetting the fin/rudder to compensate for helical propwash. I'm grateful for that knowledge, and glad I waited before lunging forward with it.
I'm working on a design now for the matching Instrument Pod, which I hope to have the foam cores CNC'ed concurrently with the QB tail, though there's no rush or anything. Attached is an image of the preliminary design. A couple of the shots make it appear much larger than it really is because I zoomed way in on a perspective view. As is, the whole unit is only 11" wide, and is designed around (4) 2" micro-instruments, with the rectangular area under the middle two gauges for a digital Rotor Tach.
The front panel is slightly concave, radiused about the pilot's head while the "shell" encompasses the depth of the instruments, leaving the forward "tip" to house and internally mount the pitot tube. The recessed "ridges" in the shell add a bit of strength, though for something this small probably aren't necessary.
With the horizontal arrangement of the instruments, I wanted to keep its plate area as small and aerodynamically neutral as possible to keep it from acting as a "canard." Also, I haven't yet determined its exact placement or mounting method on the keel.
Anyway, in seeking guidance, I'm submitting this to the Forum for criticizm, critique and suggestions from those in the know. I love the idea of fabricating my own instrument pod, but if there's something I'm overlooking or am ignorant of, I'd like other's input before I invest any more time and resources.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Regards,
Brian Jackson