REFLECTOR: What would you do - not do?

[Ron Brown]

Welcome to the Reflector and Velocities, Steve.

Here's my thoughts for a new builder:

1 - Don't get caught up in making a bunch of enhancements and mods.  Each 
one will cost you building time.  The Velocity as designed and delivered is 
a fantastic airplane.  There are lots of places you can put your touch on 
it - instruments, interior and paint.  Otherwise be careful.

2 - Commit to the building process.  You'll need to set a building 
schedule - stick to it.  The only way you will complete your airplane is to 
work on it every day - or every week.  It is too easy to say "I'll get back 
on it next week or next month".  Next thing you know, it has been sitting in 
the corner, collecting dust after several months of inactivity.

3 - Get a ride every once in a while to keep the juices flowing!  I'd be 
happy to fly over and check your project out (I am an EAA Technical 
Counselor) from time to time.

4 - There's a lot of neat tricks for working with fiberglass and epoxy.  I 
picked up several during a 2 hour Sun-n-Fun fiberglass workshop put on by 
SportAir.  Like:

    a - I used a postal scale rather than the mixing pump.  Cut the cloth 
you are planning to lay up, weigh it, then mix a like weight of 
epoxy/hardener.  You'll save epoxy and time by having just the right amount 
to wet out the lay-up and the surface you will be attaching it to.

    b - put your dry cloth on a sheet of plastic vinyl.  You can lay up 4-6 
pieces of cloth at one time.  Pour the epoxy on each layer - spread it out 
lightly with a squeegee.  Then put a sheet of plastic on top.  Now use a 
squeegee to work the epoxy into the cloth.  When the cloth is thoroughly wet 
out, you can squeeze out the excess ( not too much).  Now you can pick up 
the plastic/fiberglass, remove one side and stick it in place.  Remove the 
top sheet of plastic, and apply peel ply.

   c - always use throw-away vinyl gloves. If your hands get sticky/messy, 
just get another pair of gloves on.

   d - make sure the shop is at least 70 degrees.  The Velocity supplied 
epoxy is a slow setting, long pot life epoxy.  It won't harden if the temp 
is below 70 degrees.  You can use heat lamps or temporary enclosures to heat 
the lay up for 24 hours.  The typical cure rate seems to be three days 
before it really gets hard.  Within this three days, you can heat it up and 
change the shape somewhat.

Have fun.  If you get stumped, ASK!!!  There are no dumb questions!  The 
factory and Reflector are here to help you!!!!!!!!!  By the way, what are 
you building?


Ronnie Brown
173 Elite RG
http://home.sprintmail.com/~romott/
Cornelius, NC
704-892-5122