(15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

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planecrazzzy
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Hey Guys,
The second one went better.
I'll go back and double check the first one.
Here's a few pix of the passenger side.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
PS... after seeing the underbelly picture , I put another piece of Balsa wood next to the "Nut"
I didn't notice the gap until the picture.
.

After all was "Fit"... I tried to remove the cowl.
The cowl needed a little trimming.
I scared my Balsa... I'll need another touch up.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
Here's what the Biaxial Sleeve material I'm using looks like...

It kind of reminded me of a piece of Fire Hose...
Brian had said Medium would work.
I have Heavy....I thought that was what he said...Oooops
But with the extra weight of the Lycoming 0-235,
This might be better for me.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
Here's some fit-up....
Never done this before...and this stuff isn't cheap... ( Glass OR the West)

OK... Just to CUT this stuff is going to be special if you don't have the right tool...
I tested some new scissors...
This stuff is like cutting hair... Not easy

I used my Sheet Metal Shears... Goes through it like BUTTER...

Little trim stuff... yes... scissors
.
I positioned the gear hanging... and Clamped weights to the Bottom end of the Fiberglass sleeve
(the picture looks normal if you click on it)

.
Gotta Fly...
.
PS Here you can see the little nip I took with the shears,
That's where the Axle slips through.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
.
This is how "I" figured would be the best way for me to go.

I nipped the hole with the metal shears...and slipped the axle through.
With the gear hung from the ceiling,
I figured I should epoxy from the Top down

Also, I THINNED this first coat of epoxy with Lacquer thinner
I'm glad I did... It penetrated into everything , pine too .
.
Gotta Fly...
.
PS I have about 10 lbs of weight clamped at the bottom of the sleeve
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and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

More steps in "MY" process..
I watched a few Utube videos about guys glassing different things.
I was trying to get ready for my CRASH COURSE in Fiberglass & Epoxy.
Tools , cleaners , procedures,cautions

So... I heard something about "Green" stage.... Plyable for final trim.
The epoxy in the clamped areas had this...I cut a a notch in that area
to round the bottom/leading edge radius at the beginning...(it sorta worked)
But the very bottom is where the Biaxial meets it's self...
18 hrs later...I removed the weights.(green 12 hrs is working better )
I trimmed the Bulk with the shears.... Then cleaned up with scissors
I used some Tape to conform the ends to the dampener... I got lucky...it looks nice for a beginner

.
I'm going to get the other dampener caught up to this stage...
Then the second sleeve...


I guess the Pros get both sleeves and Shrink tube in one Shot...
Here.... I'm just trying hard not to "F" it up....
.
Gotta Fly...
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Pix of the second one,
I caught it during some green stage...
at least it stays longer in the clamped , downhill saturated end of the process.
.
Since I'm getting results I can live with... I'll hang them for the second sleeve to fit the same.
I'm lucky to have found a system for this... Baby Steps.
.
The Arnold Co videos he talked about keeping the Resin warm... He had a light in a box , he did a lot of it.
I put mine on the side of the furnace...The light in the box might be warmer.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVDILm ... YLQmYi9nPw

On my second set-up with a sleeve... I used some wax paper to keep some of the epoxy from getting on the weights
.
Gotta Fly...
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Second dampener...
Pix after the weights and plates were taken off...
just before trim and tape ( It's in the green stage at the bottom )

This picture you can see the "Nip" at the leading edge...
I did it after all the weights and plates were in place.
it made a better fit...(it was done on the first one too)

Gotta Fly...
.
Foot note: You see the profile was followed pretty good...
If I MISSED the green stage, it would still clean up good.
But instead of Shear , Scissors & Tape.... It would be cut-off wheel and sanding , maybe dynamite
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
Closing the last Sleeve bottom during the green stage...
Add tape and let dry.

Now I applied epoxy in the horizontal position...Both sides.
After a few hours, I added more.

Next morning , One of them dried good...
The other had a line of tits...
No biggie, I clean up everything with the wood wrasp I was using before

Once I get the other leg caught up , I'll give them "Thinned" coats of epoxy
Probably a couple..
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

DAYLIGHT !!!!
I see daylight at the end of this tunnel.

I'm giving these thin coats of Epoxy...
I'll need a couple of these...Light sanding in between ...

I'm close to seeing my final finish... I can live with it,
I didn't expect it to turn out like a pro,
In fact, I'll bet any composite guys cringe seeing my attempt at glassing.
Just wanted it to be able to do the job...

Since the Spring rod can be used without the Dampener...
If it stays in place...it's helping.

Gotta Fly...
.
PS...If I did another one , I'd rig some plastic to use Vacuum
Then ,I'd attempt both sleeves at once. (Medium Size)
school of hard knocks
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and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,

A little work on my Blasting booth to get more flexibility when blasting,
I blasted the Axle pieces ...

Once again I'm glad I made my wife this rack for drying rugs or Quilts...
I load it up in the shop....Open the door and walk the rack out...one person job
After I spray... I walk it back in the shop. ( it was 25F today )

I sprayed Epoxy Primer...
I have some problem areas I'll have to sand...
I got Whiffs of tiny snow blowing off some trees...Hoar Frost ?
.
The protection from UV is there...
I might paint them white later ?..
Might leave them Grey

Gotta Fly...
.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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planecrazzzy
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys,
.
Well the by the time I got the problem spots out... and things feathered out...
There wasn't a lot left.
Two steps forward... one step back.
.
I'm waiting for better weather... Light snow today.
I might rig a spray booth using that rack , a shop vac and a sheet or two
.
Gotta fly...
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

I'm setting up to spray in the shop.

Since I'm downsizing to an Airbrush the over spray won't be bad....
Miss tickle madness has her laundry...Time to make a spray booth outa that rack with a couple sheets.
I used the shop Vac, at the end of the hose I taped some cardboard so it didn't suck in the sheet.
This is where it pays to SAVE a big box...I usually have one , But I've been laying on it outside.
I'll be buying a Washer/Dryer soon...New cardboard

it might sound funny , but I checked the booth vacuum with smoke...
The output from the Shop Vac motor blew the air a lot...
I ended up moving it until the booth worked better.

Gotta Fly...
.
PS Don't try spraying a lot of Lacquer thinner through an electric vacuum motor...But you knew that.
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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Re: (15) Landing Gear ( Mike )

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Well this should wrap up this thread.
After I painted them with the Air brush , all the trim and tack coat...
I threw the rest of the grey epoxy I mixed into my normal HVLP spray gun.
I gave the main flat surfaces a good wet coat.
The dampeners have a pretty good seal against moister
.
These things sure took longer than I thought... and cost more than I expected....
Once again, I took the leap... and learned what I needed on the way down.
.
I couldn't find much info about building these,
Maybe this will help people know what some of the materials look like,
But most of all , what NOT to do....
.
Gotta Fly...
JAM (Just Another Mike)
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Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
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