Hints For Homebuilders - What would you like to see?

Joe,

I am working on wiring my RV at this time. I'd like to see how to use the Daniels Crimper tool and positioners when working with high density pins for Dsub connectors.

Disassembyl Cleaning, servicing and restoring reassembly methods of primary flight instruments

 Forces needed to move control surfaces, Math equations. Many plans leave this part quite vauge.

It would be great to feel confident while building that control in all directions would have a similar touch.

Tom:

What you're asking for is way beyond a simple hint.  This would require a full blown series of articles on how a control surface hinge moment gets reacted back to the control stick.  And there are a LOT of experimental designers who don't really have a clue on how to start.   I'm not sure I would be the best one to answer as I'm more or less a structures person rather than a control person. 

How about a demonstration on rust prevention for the inside of airframe tubes?

How about building a turtle deck from scratch (wood stringers and plywood). Best practices and layout etc. Some blueprints don't have the patterns. It's pretty easy with some simple guidlines but many people have a hard time with it.

MJ

How about "How to tighten drag and anti-drag cables on a strut braced fabric covered wing"?

skeeter

For those inventive builders that have a tip or two and can demonstrate them on video, please post them to our new site www.pilotvids.com in the instructional/how-to section, and enjoy some aviation entertainment while you are there.  Please join our site if you like it, it helps pay the bills!

Thanks for all the good ideas so far.  Keep them coming!  We'll use your ideas for both video and printed hints in the future.

Thanks!

Joe

I think it would be interesting to do a video on types of woods used in wooden airplanes, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to select good grades of wood for your project. 

Zack

Hi Joe,

    How about demonstrating a proper compression check on a flat four aircraft engine. Regards, David

 I tried searching for some discussion on this topic and didn't find much; hopefully I'm not hitting on something that's already been discussed.

One thing I would like to see discussed is the topic of incorporating folding wings into designs that do not feature them. Many aircraft are "perfect" with the exception of one little detail....the wings don't fold. I've read many forums where someones idea was just simply scrapped because their desired design did not incorporate this concept. My near-perfect aircraft dream is the Bearhawk, but the non-folding wing puts a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but I remain undeterred. Obviously some discussion would have to be made about why folding-wings are not desirable in some designs (width restrictions on the road, garage size requirements, wing tanks not leaking when folded, fuselage clearance, etc.) but I believe the subject could spark inspiration for designs to mimic Hellcat-style folding properties in a home-built.

 I would like to see an article or two about an exceptional wing-folding design on another aircraft to mimic or just general considerations to be made when designing your own folding-wing feature. A ton of discussion could spring from this topic: average cost savings of keeping your aircraft at home (as well as the inherent benefits if your garage is climate controlled vs.a T-hangar or non-climate controlled enclosed hangar), trailer design considerations, high wing folding vs. low wing folding, one-man folding design vs. two-man design. This should be a great topic regarding keeping aviation affordable. Also, a short-list of home built aircraft that have folding-wings as part of the design would be a great part of the overall piece. 

 Ken

On a very basic level -getting started. What does one need to know about building and where to find the information?

The do's and don'ts of removing and cleaning the filter screen on the Marvel/Precision/Tempest carb.

How to do ignition timing.

Joe,

How about taking a hint from the hot rod car magazines and doing a complete build start to finish.  In my high school years, I tore down and built the engine in my car using articles from a magazine and torque specs from a book for guidance.  Build from plans since most of us are on tight budgets these days and focus on one area each month.  Month one could be about selection, plans, etc.  Month two, building jigs for ribs and then building wings.  Another month on welding fuselage, another on engine selections, another on wiring, etc, etc.  Pick an aircraft that has wood, tubing, sheet metal, and fiberglass so you can touch on every method of construction.  Another magazine did something similiar recently, but they really trimmed the articles down to the point that they were more entertaining than informational.

I'm finally getting started on my project.  The biggest hurdle is getting the confidence to actually start. 

How about modern welding technique, utilizing the latest technologies, like variable freq tig, and proper metal conditioning?

A lot of advances since the Bingelis series on aircraft welding.

Seems like there is a lot of misinformation floating around.

I would also like to see info on metal shaping.  I've been learning how to stretch, shrink and planish a windscreen fairing by trial and error with just a book.  A video would be very helful. 

Richard, speaking of aluminum, your airplane is fabulous.  Mark

Good ideas folks.  Keep them coming!  You will see some of these starting to show up in either print or video form in the near future.

Thanks!

Joe

How about safety harnesses, What are they attatched to? Is it stong enough for thr G's of a hard landing or crash.

Seat mounting as well.     Would your mounts pull out with a 5000lb + jerk?

Tom:

AC43.13-2A Chapter 9 has most of the info you need for a seat belt installation.  The structure and compnents should react about 500 pounds PER belt (shoulder and Lap) .   This is the proof load suggested.

5000 is a little HIGH...