REFLECTOR: What would you do - not do?

[Joe Ewen]

Welcome Steve,
You have already received many great techniques.  One of the greatest is 
preweting your lay-ups on plastic, I find .003 PE sheet to work the best. 
Not including wings, 90% of my glass work used this technique.  I would like 
to add a few suggestions that I did not see previously mentioned.

*** Do Not trust the factory cut lines, triple check them.  My worst 
example: I bought my kit second hand and did not like the condition of 2 
strake panels.  I bought replacements.  The replacements had cut lines 
marked  in the vicinity of the fuselage joint, one line was off by 4" to 5" 
at one end.  Had I cut anywhere close to the factory line, I would have been 
buying another strake panel.
* In areas of multiple lay-ups (example gear area) try to make all lay-ups 
at the same, saves a lot of sanding between lay-ups.
* Try to get copies of past velocity view newsletters.  I found a lot of 
great ideas and clarifications in them.
* I agree with statements about avoiding modifications, one mod I would 
suggest was called "The great big hatch." (appeared in one of the Velocity 
Views)  I think this one is well worth the effort.
* During strake construction there is a requirement to invert the fuselage 
(instructions circa 1995.)  I developed a technique that does not require 
flipping the fuselage.  Tanks were leak free, passed a 24 hour balloon leak 
test (balloon burst after 24 hours due to OAT temp rise.)  When you are 
ready to do your stakes let me know if you would like the procedure.

Hope this helps and happy building,
Joe



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Goldman" <steve at fatcatair.com>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:25 AM
Subject: REFLECTOR: What would you do - not do?


> So I'm a soon to be builder (kit should be delivered in June) and I found 
> it
> interesting to see the discussion of what tools are good to have in your
> shop. I've been reading the kit manual for a while and I'm up to chapter 
> 8.
>
> I've looked back thru at least 2 years of archives and I don't see a 
> thread
> posing the question I'm interested in. Given your building experience what
> do you wish you had done or not done?
>
> I've been following Andy Millin's progress for quite a while and I'd guess
> his list would start with more sanding of the wing core with his 5' 
> permagrit
> bar. I'm curious as to other builders thoughts.
>
> -- 
> Steve Goldman
> '77 Tiger N28531
> Pittsboro, NC 27312
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit 
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>