chepburn
Well Known Member
Plans often don’t go as planned...
I set May 1 2020 as my retirement date from CAE over two years ago, (actually a bit longer…because Step 1 was finding a fantastic co-owner for C-GOGO so I could continue to enjoy the RV world well into the years of no regular paycheque). Despite management’s questions…. I had made my plans, so I stuck to them. NO REGRETS.
March arrived. Ya, you know what happened …we all do. So much for my extended OSH trip. So much for Young Eagles day. 2021 is the year now.
Well, when I first built C-GOGO, I tried my hand at all phases… structure, systems, avionics, paint, and finally sewing…
HONEST… these used to look good in the plane !!! After 9 years of flying, they are getting kind of hmmmm… tired-looking? (Insert other appropriate synonyms here)
So, I have two lists going. My list, and Karin’s list. Alternating… really, they are.
As a retirement present, (to myself really) I decided it was time to upgrade those pockets. As my fellow RV8 aviators are aware, there isn’t a lot of room for all the crud we think we need beside us on a flight. Phone, maps, checklists, EFB, passenger mess avoidance containers etc etc.
It just so happens I have a lot of 7781 glass in my shop. (Another story entirely) So, time to make some sketches.
The original panels were made of fabric because of these:
So, there has to be space behind a solid fiberglass panel for wire runs. Maybe this?
I’ll spare you the rest of the details of my first two attempts.
Summary is:
Made the moulds. Made the parts. Tried the parts. Cleared the wires but the G.I.B’s feet were too constrained and could not freely move the rudder pedals.
Ahh well, I’m retired.
Apparently, I have the time now to do things more than once.
I need that front panel to hinge in so that its flush with the bulkhead when dual, and can be opened up when solo. Hmm.
So, more moulds. Freestylin this time round. None of that CAD ****. Those spaces between the bulkheads have a double taper. Whatever… deal with it.
I bagged up the 7781 glass using 3 layers plus a stiffener for the front top edge (that ledge you see in the mould) and made a part run.
Because we have a left side, right side, fore and aft…. Eight moulds. Now, what am I going to do about those wire runs etc ?
I took the parts to the plane, popped them in place so I can see the bundle positions behind the fiberglass and marked each run with a sharpie.
I then cut the run lines out of the back part because I am going to bond cloth over to cover the slots.
Yup. Cut too much the first time. Make another one. It is a different slot pattern for each pocket. This is the front starboard side..
And this is the aft starboard side:
I had to add slot stiffeners to the rear panel because the cut line made the part too flexible when installed. So, another mould for stiffener channel than can be cut up and bonded as required.
So after all of this how do they look? Standby one....there is a Part Two....
I set May 1 2020 as my retirement date from CAE over two years ago, (actually a bit longer…because Step 1 was finding a fantastic co-owner for C-GOGO so I could continue to enjoy the RV world well into the years of no regular paycheque). Despite management’s questions…. I had made my plans, so I stuck to them. NO REGRETS.
March arrived. Ya, you know what happened …we all do. So much for my extended OSH trip. So much for Young Eagles day. 2021 is the year now.
Well, when I first built C-GOGO, I tried my hand at all phases… structure, systems, avionics, paint, and finally sewing…
HONEST… these used to look good in the plane !!! After 9 years of flying, they are getting kind of hmmmm… tired-looking? (Insert other appropriate synonyms here)
So, I have two lists going. My list, and Karin’s list. Alternating… really, they are.
As a retirement present, (to myself really) I decided it was time to upgrade those pockets. As my fellow RV8 aviators are aware, there isn’t a lot of room for all the crud we think we need beside us on a flight. Phone, maps, checklists, EFB, passenger mess avoidance containers etc etc.
It just so happens I have a lot of 7781 glass in my shop. (Another story entirely) So, time to make some sketches.
The original panels were made of fabric because of these:
So, there has to be space behind a solid fiberglass panel for wire runs. Maybe this?
I’ll spare you the rest of the details of my first two attempts.
Summary is:
Made the moulds. Made the parts. Tried the parts. Cleared the wires but the G.I.B’s feet were too constrained and could not freely move the rudder pedals.
Ahh well, I’m retired.
Apparently, I have the time now to do things more than once.
I need that front panel to hinge in so that its flush with the bulkhead when dual, and can be opened up when solo. Hmm.
So, more moulds. Freestylin this time round. None of that CAD ****. Those spaces between the bulkheads have a double taper. Whatever… deal with it.
I bagged up the 7781 glass using 3 layers plus a stiffener for the front top edge (that ledge you see in the mould) and made a part run.
Because we have a left side, right side, fore and aft…. Eight moulds. Now, what am I going to do about those wire runs etc ?
I took the parts to the plane, popped them in place so I can see the bundle positions behind the fiberglass and marked each run with a sharpie.
I then cut the run lines out of the back part because I am going to bond cloth over to cover the slots.
Yup. Cut too much the first time. Make another one. It is a different slot pattern for each pocket. This is the front starboard side..
And this is the aft starboard side:
I had to add slot stiffeners to the rear panel because the cut line made the part too flexible when installed. So, another mould for stiffener channel than can be cut up and bonded as required.
So after all of this how do they look? Standby one....there is a Part Two....