Finally after 24 years it standing on its own legs!

[N14ND]

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Mounted the landing gear this week. Tail wheel is an Iron Designs with a stainless stinger for the spring from a Bearhawk. I always liked the Cessna 180-185 stinger spring so I made theirs work. Had to make my own receiver.
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Landing gear is not the standard Grove gear. I had Robbie design and make me a taller set (back in ‘99) that is the same width as the new KF gear. It is much taller than I expected. The door sill comes up to my belly button. I like the wide track of the gear.
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The tires are the Desser 22x8x6. Will be a monster when it finally on 29” Bushwheels. I can’t get it back into the paint booth so I will have to move the tractor out of the barn.
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Also installed the windshield and the skylight. “March of the clecos”.
My incredibly patience wife was super excited to see it finally up on its own. Now it looks more like a plane.

[KitfoxSS]

Congrats!
Its time consuming, but so worth it in the end.
What engine will you be putting on her?

[jmodguy]

I like the tailwheel mount!

[N14ND]

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Mounted the belly pod on yesterday, as well as the firewall. Clecoed the turtledeck on to check the fit. The door fits nicely. Waiting on getting the cowling finished before completing the stripes. Originally the Series V didn’t have a boot cowl, so I made the firewall like the RV-4 plans and trimmed the cowling. Put a NACA scoop for fresh air cabin venting on each side.
The belly pod was a bit of work. Made a mold... fits well. Uses the bungee gear attach fittings and the float fitting under the lift strut fitting. Its not huge, but it can hold a tent and a couple of dry sacks.

[rcbif]

Looking good. Whats with the recessed area in the center of the lower half? Just aesthetic, or convertible to patrol style?

[N14ND]

The doors do have a patrol window in them. The full clear plexi wasn’t an option in 1995. Haha. It still has tape on it. I was going to peel that off yesterday.

[N14ND]

My shop is the barn in the background. 😊

[efwd]

I like it! I haven't seen a pod like that before, just the Bomb looking one.

[N14ND]

The belly pod is a one of a kind. I flew a C-185 in Alaska with a belly pod and got accustomed to it. We’d bulk out before we grossed out. Never enough space, whether it’s a Falcon, King Air or Kitfox.

[bbs428]

Sweet ride. Belly pod is a keeper. Maybe you could produce a few more of those pods? :D