If I were to build another one.

[alan]

If I were to build another one, I would:

1. Put the fuel vents just outboard of the fuel caps. As it is you cannot completely fill the tanks as the edges of the filler hole captures maybe a gallon of air in the upper portion of the tanks.

2. Put some kind of buffer material, maybe some weatherstrip, between the upper forward headrack windshield former and the windshield material. It rattles something fierce during taxi.

3. Get the tuned 4-into-1 header system and use a motorcycle muffler something like what Lynn is using instead of the Toucan mufflers. The Toucan requires a heavy cross brace between the tail pipes to keep from shearing off the locating rivet and, just by it's design, has to have more horsepower robbing backpressure than the newer header system. And Lynn's is so quiet!

4. Use the Polyfiber system all the way through final paint. I used polyurethane paint and now I will have a serious problem repairing any damage as MEK will not strip it off. Woe is me!

5. Paint all exposed powder coated parts. The contractor Just uses puts the bare minimun thickness on all parts and now I have rusting struts and cross bracing in the cockpit. The powder coating should be considered as primer only.

There will probably be some other stuff I'll remember later and I'll add it. Feel free to add your own thoughts.

Alan (starting second annual inspection with 190 hours)

[Wes]

Alan,
Good thoughts and right on track from my observations of finished planes that have some time on them.
Maybe the rust problem wouldn't affect those in drier climates, but here in FL and I know in TX it is a MAJOR problem.
Thanks for sharing, since you probably have one of the 'high-time' birds.

GL on the annual.

Wes

[CanadianSheepHunter]

If I were to build another one, I would:

1. Put the fuel vents just outboard of the fuel caps. As it is you cannot completely fill the tanks as the edges of the filler hole captures maybe a gallon of air in the upper portion of the tanks.

2. Put some kind of buffer material, maybe some weatherstrip, between the upper forward headrack windshield former and the windshield material. It rattles something fierce during taxi.

3. Get the tuned 4-into-1 header system and use a motorcycle muffler something like what Lynn is using instead of the Toucan mufflers. The Toucan requires a heavy cross brace between the tail pipes to keep from shearing off the locating rivet and, just by it's design, has to have more horsepower robbing backpressure than the newer header system. And Lynn's is so quiet!

4. Use the Polyfiber system all the way through final paint. I used polyurethane paint and now I will have a serious problem repairing any damage as MEK will not strip it off. Woe is me!

5. Paint all exposed powder coated parts. The contractor Just uses puts the bare minimun thickness on all parts and now I have rusting struts and cross bracing in the cockpit. The powder coating should be considered as primer only.

There will probably be some other stuff I'll remember later and I'll add it. Feel free to add your own thoughts.

Does anyone know if the powder coating was applied heavier at all in aprox 2014 kits?...im currently building a kit that was from the factory aprox 2012/2014

Alan (starting second annual inspection with 190 hours)

[danerazz]

I would build it a lot faster.

[danerazz]

If I were to build another one, I would:

4. Use the Polyfiber system all the way through final paint. I used polyurethane paint and now I will have a serious problem repairing any damage as MEK will not strip it off. Woe is me!

Did you use Stewart’s? You could probably repair over the polyurethane with Stewart by scuffing, Eko-bond, prime and paint. That is how Stewart repairs over their Eko-poly. I can’t imagine it wouldn’t work on other Poly paints. It makes for a pretty easy repair. You can pre-paint patches while painting the rest, cut them out as needed, and glue/iron them in place and done.

[CanadianSheepHunter]

If I were to build another one, I would:

1. Put the fuel vents just outboard of the fuel caps. As it is you cannot completely fill the tanks as the edges of the filler hole captures maybe a gallon of air in the upper portion of the tanks.

2. Put some kind of buffer material, maybe some weatherstrip, between the upper forward headrack windshield former and the windshield material. It rattles something fierce during taxi.

3. Get the tuned 4-into-1 header system and use a motorcycle muffler something like what Lynn is using instead of the Toucan mufflers. The Toucan requires a heavy cross brace between the tail pipes to keep from shearing off the locating rivet and, just by it's design, has to have more horsepower robbing backpressure than the newer header system. And Lynn's is so quiet!

4. Use the Polyfiber system all the way through final paint. I used polyurethane paint and now I will have a serious problem repairing any damage as MEK will not strip it off. Woe is me!




5. Paint all exposed powder coated parts. The contractor Just uses puts the bare minimun thickness on all parts and now I have rusting struts and cross bracing in the cockpit. The powder coating should be considered as primer only.

There will probably be some other stuff I'll remember later and I'll add it. Feel free to add your own thoughts.

Alan (starting second annual inspection with 190 hours)

Does anyone know if the powder coating was applied heavier at all in aprox 2014 kits ?...or ever?...or is the powder coat still applied lighter than it could or should be?...im currently building a kit that was from the factory aprox 2012/2014?

[alan]

I used Stits (Poly Fiber) all the way except for the color coats. As far as the powder coat goes, my problems came from the vendor not properly prepping the metal before applying the powdered paint. I have a very early kit. There is no doubt the later kits were better prepared.

Still flying with over 900 hours and 13-1/2 years

alan

[danerazz]

You should be able to repair with Stewart’s over the poly without having to strip to fabric, even though you used Stits for covering. If you call them and ask they can tell you how, and probably save you a lot of trouble.

[BDA]

Oratex will stick to anything as well