Nose Cone Access Hatch

[planecrazzzy]

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Ok, lemme Splain...

Last year ...I went over my FSII...it had sat for 6 years ...

I moved my battery to the nose...then took out the remaining plates of steel (CG)
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I flew it a couple times , I'm going through it for this year ...I want to put a little weight BACK into the nose.
Crap...that's under the Battery , I'm not fighting the tight area anymore ...

I tried to take pictures of how the Hinge was "SET" before the door was cut out...

This is a simple project ....With a little thought , you could do much better

Success .... it comes in CANS....always has

Gotta Fly...


My sewing machine is pulling Double Duty , as a Drafting Table .
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The pattern is square ...easy to use it to tape around it on a curved surface .
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Once the hatch was in place , the hinge clearance could also be laid out.
The material I found is soft aluminum .
(I'm saving my good hinge material for any control surface )
I scratched my azz and turned my head , and this is where it ended up .

[planecrazzzy]

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I plan on using the same piece that I cut out as the hatch door.
This ...I need help , I used a piece of light steel for a cutting edge to get crisp lines on BOTH sides of the cut.
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Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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Ok, hinge is set , the Clecos will interfere with full travel , not a problem .
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The same cheater I used to make the long cuts couldn't be used for the shorter Curved surface cuts ...

Did I say it was light steel ...I needed lighter in order to bend it without a Hammer .
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I don't want square corners , my cuts go to the radius .

Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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I had to make a tool to get the cut to follow the tight radius , clean on both sides .
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scratched again ...hmmm. no hack saw blades around ...
Found a band saw blade .
Remember those Pumpkin carvers , little saws for tight radius
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When I cut the blade using the cut-off wheel .
I wrapped it in a wet paper towel and clamped it with wood .
Maybe I should have pointed the teeth for PULL cutting ... whatever , it worked ...
Fiberglass ain't easy to cut.
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I made all the cuts , leaving the slightest piece , then clipping them all at the end
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Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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I sized up where it goes , marked it with a sharpie .
I used the Dzus base to overlap the cut... just one more thing keeping stuff square
I drilled holes to grip the Bondo better , I scuffed and wiped lacquer thinner on it .
pre clamped it ...

Time to mix some Bondo,

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Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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Side piece in ...Top piece fitted , drilled , re-fitted ...Bondo

Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

......Last one being put in place ...
Depending on temp and how "hot" you made the batch ...20 min is usually good for this application .
LATER , I'll be coating/sealing things with West Systems marine epoxy ...

Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

.....Pix

[planecrazzzy]

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It's not winning any beauty contests ...She's all about function .
First thing that I did was clean up the wiring ...it wasn't bad , but now it's better ...
The way Kolbs NEED that forward weight , the battery makes sense ...
getting access makes sense too

Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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After the hatch was done , plenty of work was needed ...

Secure the Battery ... before , it had Styrofoam ,tape and cardboard ...and a bungee cord holding it in place .
Not to mention the plastic taped to the battery in the spring area ...

It was just for testing ,it did the job .

This mount is light , and higher than the other platform , giving the pitot tube "line" good clearance
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Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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If I wiggle the battery , I shake the plane .
If I wiggle the spare parts box on top of the battery , I shake the plane .
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Gotta Fly...
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[planecrazzzy]

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<<<<<<<<<<<< About the picture ABOVE >>>>>>>>>>
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Ok , someone asked ...I'll explain it here

The battery spring on top ...

2 cotter pins
2 pieces of 30 amp copper wire
nylon string ...from one of my string lines
....and a spring

bungee cords will weaken in time ...even fail
This has a limited travel , depends on the spring .

Hope this helps , This type/style is used on screen doors a lot .

Gotta Fly...

PS My tail wheel has two of these