6th times a charm - new cluster plates....

KDOG

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
652
Location
Bridgeton, NJ
Finally done. The last said I made were adequate and safe but not too pretty as you can see in the first pic. I redid the plates and I am much happier with them as you can see in the second pic. I also made a new keel to spec with the new Starbee nose block, I'll get a picture of that up when I get her back together. Also found out from Starbee that they are putting that extra seat-to-mast brace in their kits, I'll probably do that as well, I got more angle on the way. Anyway wish me luck! It still might not be a show bird, but I think it will turn out better than it would have!!
 

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The 3/16th alum. I took it into work and cut it on the monster shear cutter at work - that thing goes thru it like its not even there.... However I did use a bandsaw on the other set which worked fine. I made my new set 2.5" wide like my last set. I want lots of meat around those bolt holes!!!! Well I'm exhauseted, just got off from a 12hr midnite shift - I'll check in later...
 
6th time, huh?
I'm catching you up, have just built my 4th seat brace. Issues with (1) hole positions (2) cutting too close to a hole (3) deep scratches too close to a hole. The 4th just needs to be filed down... mañana.

John
 
Well at least we're all making progress, little by little. As of today I should have the remaining tube & angle stock cut to length and ground smooth for the whole airframe. Man, that's a lot of work with only a hacksaw and a file! A few of the structural members (angle) I've intentionally left slightly oversized so I can fine-tune the lengths during test-fitting with the assembly. For example, I'm extending the diag. seat braces down .863" so they will terminate at an angle flush with the underside of the forward tail boom. It's a nit-picky detail, but looks a little "cleaner" to me anyway. I'm also raking the mast back 22 degrees so the subwoofers can be mounted over the thrustline... :eek: :D . Sorry, couldn't resist that last one.

Cheers,
Brian Jackson
 
All you need is a 12V wiring harness, a dc-ac adapter, and you'd be all set!!! Just have to watch out for noise restrictions as you're flying!!
 
KDOG said:
All you need is a 12V wiring harness, a dc-ac adapter, and you'd be all set!!! Just have to watch out for noise restrictions as you're flying!!
Somehow I think the only thing a pilot should be listening to is their flight radio and their engine :D. I'll blast my RUSH CDs after I'm on the ground.
 
I guess no one else noticed the Bondage equipment hanging on KDogs wall!!! :)
 
I noticed but wasn't gonna say anything :o ... To each hithss own!

{deleted... see the "flowers" thread on this GB forum}

Brian Jackson
 
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Hey now, don't knock it until you try it!!! Thats for her to use on me - whether I like it or not!!! ;) (inset whip cracking sound here)
 
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Ok guys, I'm about to bite the bullet!
I'm pricing out the order for phase-1.
So...Did ya'll substitute 3/16 Aluminum for the SS Keel/Mast Cluster Plate? I recall KDOG asking about the shock plate, but wasn't sure about here as well.

If the substitution is cool to do (strengthwise), I'd like to do it. (Don't like to mix dis-similar metals).

Oh...and I assume it is 6061-T6...right?
 
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Jon B said:
OK guys, I'm about to bite the bullet!
I'm pricing out the order for phase-1.

Waahoo! Another builder, outstanding!
At what point do we start using the collective noun, "Swarm"? :)

StarBee at least are supplying aluminium cluster plates, not stainless.
Certainly *much* easier to fabricate if doing it yourself.

cheers,
John
 
By gosh you guys are all experiencing the "joys" of homebuilding!
By the time you are done you will have the experience of building a couple of gyro's!
I'm not knocking you at all, just that that's the way it is, Like I have said before, working as an aircraft mechanic for the last 18 years, I have built my share of fine looking scrap!
But it sure is a good feeling when it all comes together just as it is supposed to. Keep it up!
 
I must be the oddball then... been pretty lucky so far as I haven't scrapped any parts... "yet." Hopefully the odds won't catch up at the end for one big mammoth OOPS what have I done!!! But I'm taking things very methodically and, in the spirit of chess, am trying to think several moves ahead before I make a cut, drill a hole, etc. The "measure twice, cut once" habit has however saved me from at least one cutting mistake. But this past weekend I have all of the parts cut for the entire airframe, which was quite a job considering it was all done with a hacksaw and a file. Amazingly, you'd never know from looking at the parts it wasn't done in a machine shop. What a great project these here gyro-thingys are!

Cheers,
Brian Jackson
 
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