Zodiac 601 XL Project

[doreen]

Keep up the good work. Quick peek at my scratch built xl.

[Scotsman]

That looks stunning...where did you get the custom canopy set up from?

Where do I get one and how much is it?..this is a huge improvement on the existing XL canopy and I don't want to pay R20 000 approx to upgrade to a 650 canopy. Can you give me some details?

BTW Paint scheme is also pretty cool.

Cheers

James

[doreen]

082 376 2047 for more info

[grostek]

Keep up the good work. Quick peek at my scratch built xl.

Well done doreen, she looks as if she is doing 150 standing still.

Yes she looks just right.

Awsome job.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek

[Oupa-G]

I have seen it in real life it is stunning full of nice healthy homebuiders innovation. It is here where aviation advances. Freedom of spirit and not compromising on quality.



Cheers Oupa-G

[mikeinPE]

Doreen I like what I see & this keeps me motivated with my slow build. Whereabouts in the country are you building?

Mike in PE
Scratchbuilding a CH650 (slowly)

[Scotsman]

Doreen is in George...seeing that almost finished aircraft definitely drives you back into the garage.

With the above in mind I headed back into the garage to trial fit the side skin and start preparing the gear attach plates for the spring leaf gear system. Just need to get one of my mates to hold the rear spar channel so that I can drill and cleco it on and then time to start connecting the skin to the gear attach plate through a set of uprights (may seem confusing but essentially a very simple exercise).

Until next time...

[cap232]

hi all,
great to see some zenith builders on here. I also have a set of plans for a 601xl, and has been in two minds since the whole FAA thing,
I hope they find the root of the problem and a proper fix, cause an AD to keep the cable tention in check on the ailerons seems to me like a remedy and not a solution, but that`s just my opinion.

James, great job, did you buy one of the kits from bundu, and did you have to order the finishing kit (undercarige, canopy etc) extra. I see that the zenith site has it listed as a seperate item? What primer are you using? Best of luck and keep us posted.

Doreen, great paint scheme. Did you have to work with the manufacturer for the mods you did on the canopy and turtledeck, where did you source the undercart, it looks like the one available for the european 601`s.

Andre

[Scotsman]

Hi Andre,

Whole heartedly agree with you on the fix not solution comments. I have been watching the situation with interest (both financial and otherwise) and the recent ADs issued from the UK wing of Zenith indicate to me that at least they are willing to alter the design. I am waiting for the final testing results and the LAA (old PFA in the UK) to publish their recommended changes which I am led to believe are being air tested currently. The US situation is a quagmire of litigation and this I believe is one of the underlying reasons for the slowness of action on behalf of Zenith US and the limited level of communication with the market.

The recent GVT (Ground Vibration Testing) indicates, as you correctly suggest, no flutter within the flight envelope and beyond from I believe 5lbs of tension upwards. The testing report also suggests a mass balance arm as an appropriate "belt and braces" solution. I am led to believe that this is one of the items being air tested in the UK currently.

The build takes, at my pace, a few years and I believe that any changes will be retrofitable so I have decided to push one. The quality of the plans, videos and picture based building manual is really great (lego for big kids...not quite but close) and I believe that the other bit will get sorted out.

The primer being used is the Epiwash solution from Plascon which Rudi Greyling recommended and seems to do the job well.

The kit was purchased from Bundu Aviation (Philip Cronje) and they dealt with all the importation irritation deliverying it into my garage. I purchased the whole kit in one which excludes engine, paint, instruments and FWF. I don't know how they ar splitting up the kit currently but there is also an option to purchase the 650 canopy separately to install on a 601. The kit quality has been excellent and there are a lot of CNC predrilled pilot holes which definitely speeds up the build with other little goodies like trim servos in the pack too.

Doreen substituted the intended spring leaf undercarriage (grove I think) for the Jabi one. Probably a very astute move as the Zenith kit version is quite over engineered for the intended use...ie. it is extremely heavy compared to the airframe structure. I may have a re-look at the undercarriage when I am ready to drop the fuselage.

Cheers

James

[Scotsman]

A couple of recent pics...installing the rear spar channels and wing attach points. j

[Scotsman]

Did a bit of work over the weekend on the XL. The front side skin is finally secured after hours of fannying about with alignment...the area is starting to become rigid with the upper longerons now being secured, with clecos, to the lower longerons through the gear attach plate.

Also started on the the bulkheads for the rear fuselage yesterday so the kit is starting to metamorphose from a canoe into some semblance of an aircraft. It really amazes me how flimsy the structure feels in the initial build and as you brace the various pieces together it really starts to feel really solid (fortunately). A couple of pictures of the newly attached rear bulkheads (ie. the bit that supports the curved top skin that encloses the fuselage) will follow shortly.

That's all for now...enjoy your Monday.

James

[Scotsman]

A couple of pics with the rear bulkheads in place....starting to feel like an aerie (almost)...j

[mikeinPE]

Looking very good James. Just keep on going. I shouldnt be talking. Going very slow here. Will start a thread here in the near future

Mike in PE
Scratchbuilding a CH650

[Scotsman]

Exactly the reason I started this thread....it presses you to actually build as it is embarrassing to sit there with no progress months on.

[mikeinPE]

Hi James

We need to see another update? .

I picked up flange dies yesterday & now I can finish the nose ribs. Then it's onto the wing ribs.

Mike in Pe
Scratchbuilding a CH650
Will fly behind a Corvair