Justin's Raven

[justin.schoeman]

Dankie Boet. Die shape het 'n bietjie verander sedert daardie foto's. 'n Bietjie skerper, en simetries. Die inlaat gate is omtrent 50% groter as die standaard Sonex s'n, so dit behoort groot genoeg te wees (ek gebruik 'ram ducts' so dit sal nie help om die cowl inlate groter te maak - maar ek sal hulle beter blend met die spinner). Die utilaat is groot ~ 3x die totale inlaat grote.

[KFA]

Was die spinner toe die regte een?

[justin.schoeman]

Was die spinner toe die regte een?

Absolutely perfect, thanks! If you have a look at the pics on the previous page, you can make out the 9" circle marked on the plug - the spinner fits perfectly!

I must admit - this was unintentional. I was planning on using a skull-cap spinner, until I started thinking about how to fit and remove the cowl - then I realised I would need something bigger. And the circle I had added as a guide for symetrical profiling around the nose turned out to be 9" ! A string of happy co-incidences.

Thanks for the help!

[justin.schoeman]

Slow and steady progress. Plak some more body filler on, wait 1 hour, sand some more. Repeat ad-infinitum...

I made a few mistakes, and they are costing me dearly in terms of time. Firstly, I listened to the guy at the composites shop, and tried to put a layer of fiberglass over the PU foam, before starting with body filler (instead of just applying body filler to the PU, as per Boet's instructions). Anyway, the glass did not adhere well to the PU. Especially not on the sides, and definitely not on the bottom. Had to tear it all off - and it took a few chunks of PU foam with it. So I needed to do some filling and re-profiling to fix that mistake.

I also seem to have stuffed up a batch, or two of PU foam, as there are some VERY soft spots that tend to bubble when the body filler gets sanded too thin. I have been digging these out, and filling the areas with body filler, to give a nice stable surface to work on.

Anyway, the job is largely done. Just a few more sessions to get a perfect surface.

Looking at this, I get the horrible feeling I may need to redo the bottom right corner - it seems a little asymmetrical. Although it doesn't look like it standing in front of the plane. Hopefully the photo is just a little off-center...

[Duck Rogers]

Nice job Justin.

[Jean Crous]

Justin , being pedantic is normally a good thing.........BUT...... it kept me out of the air for too long Your job looks any bit as good as the next man`s
Regards
Jean

[justin.schoeman]

Got rid of the asymmetry, and have most of the surface true and smooth. Just really battling to get the air inlets smooth and symmetrical.

Any hints and tips would be extremely welcome right now ...

[Jean Crous]

Other than well meant compliments, sorry i cant give any advice , ask Boet i`m sure he can give you some tips.

[Boet]

EYEBALL MK 1 +SANDPAPER with a bit of elbow grease thrown in might juuust do the job

[justin.schoeman]

EYEBALL MK 1 +SANDPAPER with a bit of elbow grease thrown in might juuust do the job

Judging by how I sukkel to make a round curve, I think I only have Mk 0.5 eyeballs...

[Jean Crous]

EYEBALL MK 1 +SANDPAPER with a bit of elbow grease thrown in might juuust do the job

Judging by how I sukkel to make a round curve, I think I only have Mk 0.5 eyeballs...

[Boet]

Think: CURVES.............nice curves........

[justin.schoeman]

Think: CURVES.............nice curves........

Sometimes I think I must look like I am feeling up some other curves while I am working on this. Wrapping my arms around it, and gently stroking up and down the sides...



Actually amazing what small irregularities and assymetries you can pick up by just running your hands over it!

[Boet]

Jip, use your two "lilly white fondlers" to feel for irregularities like hail damage and the such......

[justin.schoeman]

A motto to live by: If at first you don't succeed, CHEAT!

Just could not get perfect half circles to round off the inlets, so instead went with rectangular inlets with simple quarter rounds in the corners.

Still need to build up, and straighten them, but I think this will work a lot better!