Wing rotation jigs

[Flyboy66]

Today, I got past the research step and ordered a Kitfox. I have seen videos on YouTube of a jig that was attached to each end of the wing that allowed it to be rotated along its long axis. Do any of you use something like this? If so, can you post pictures of the stand/jig?

[efwd]

I think nearly everyone builds these. It makes the wing work a whole bunch easier. Unfortunately I don't have a clear photo of one. Someone will certainly post one for you. I used small wheels that resemble a computer mouse ball. Use larger wheels. Rolling mine around is a bit of a pain when the wheel falls into the joint in the concrete floor of the garage.
Eddie

[bholland]

If you look at Tom Waid's website he has pictures and dimensions. His website is tropicaltuba.com. I built mine similar to his and they work great.

[Delta Whisky]

Flyboy - you and I are in about the same stage (ordered mine just a week or so ago) and have/had the same question. Anyhow, Linda's husband (I can't find his name on the forum right now) posted drawings of his rotisserie on his website here: http://tropicaltuba.com/Kitfox%20Project/Kitfox.htm#Wing%20Rotisserie. Others I've talked to say to look into a PVC pipe solution but I haven't found one ......yet. Good luck.

[aviator79]

Congratulations on the order!

It's funny there has not emerged a "standard" way of building the wing rotisseries. Here are mine. The spacing on the spars is 27.5". I built them before the kit arrived, and they work beautifully.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xekEU5BaZtsctvV9Q7u0MrZmlQvsNWm_pHWSxWjnK5Jf1LVgpA a7tXAko69IChPIbTj1Z63nbxOWhWyqjGxjf15hpmbdAicgSSVF WzwPwXrQ8x85ktr4voRZKlhGQtrcy-I_Iy4DSWE
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mvAdwalLbQuB2RO3uNkwBpifGoo9sS0GDAFKx-Te1yyj429p8d8H48snoPqPggQgW74ikwVysKQaRfG-wGAbkk3z4zPvqEfyVBTkdRqpOFW3BuSAViD65BqmqY8IpR32ZO Wcmb3hf-Q

[DesertFox4]

Congrats Steve and Darrell on your recent purchases.:) Enjoy your builds.

[jiott]

aviator79 those are beautiful. I notice quite a sophisticated clamp mechanism at the pivot points on the vertical uprights. Just a suggestion to really simplify this area: just use a 1/4" or so carriage bolt with a large fender washer and a wing nut for this pivot joint. Loosen the wing nut to rotate and tighten it to clamp in place.

[Av8r3400]

I used a couple of cheap engine stands from Harbor Freight. Used them for the fuselage too...

[aviator79]

Just a suggestion to really simplify this area: just use a 1/4" or so carriage bolt with a large fender washer and a wing nut for this pivot joint.

It's really not that sophisticated, and when you're waiting for a kit, there is time to over-engineer. I thought about the carriage bolt you describe. I wasn't sure how well it would resist torque when drilling and what not. Maybe I thought too hard.

[Flyboy66]

Thanks for the pictures and links! So, how much does a wing section weigh? What size PVC pipe is that. I am sure someone already has that in a post, but I just came in from stacking firewood and haven’t gone back through all of the responses. I am down to my last 143 days till it get here, and I want to be ready!

[jmodguy]

Here is a pic of some PVC jigs that were given to me. They worked great!
The pivot point has a long carriage bolt with a wingnut. I think it is 3/8”

[t j]

Okay here's the other end of the spectrum. My "Poor man's" wing rotating jig. Note the stick with the slingshot end used to prop up the PVC tube to keep it from rotating while working on it. Also a hole in the PVC elbow to feed the pitot tubing through then cover it with a plastic bag when spraying.

[mr bill]

I did the same, pvc pipe and a couple of sawhorses. worked great.

[aviator79]

Thanks for the pictures and links! So, how much does a wing section weigh? What size PVC pipe is that. I am sure someone already has that in a post, but I just came in from stacking firewood and haven’t gone back through all of the responses. I am down to my last 143 days till it get here, and I want to be ready!

It's 1.5" PVC. Someone indicated that you could put a 1.5" coupler on the end which would make it snug up better in the rear spar. Whatever brand were available at our hardware store were too big, but the amount of play is actually perfect with just the 1.5 inch PVC. You don't need them to be a tight fit, and a loose fit allows your alignment between the end fixtures to be less critical. Don't overthink the fixtures too much. However you get some 1.5 inch pvc segments 27.5 inches apart will probably be fine.

[t j]

A wing weighs maybe 40 pounds I guess. I can easily pick one up and turn it over or carry it easily by myself. I'm a skinny old man.

Actually the only thing I used the rotater Jigs for was to spray the coatings. For all other covering work I made and used the padded sawhorses as instructed in the polyfiber manual.

[Flyboy66]

If someone has already answered, sorry for asking again. About what is the inside diameter of the wing spar (what size PVC for the rotisserie)


And thanks for the info on the weight of the wing sections. I am trying to build this upstairs in my detached garage and then move it downstairs for the final assembly. Any guesses on fuselage weight with all the hardware installed (no engine or engine mount) for the same reason. I have a hoist, but don’t know if there are any safe lift points on the wing and fuselage to use for hoisting up and down.

Does anyone use any rotisserie type stuff for the fuselage? I assume it would be handy for painting the belly, but what about construction?

[Flyboy66]

Congratulations on the order!

It's funny there has not emerged a "standard" way of building the wing rotisseries. Here are mine. The spacing on the spars is 27.5". I built them before the kit arrived, and they work beautifully.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xekEU5BaZtsctvV9Q7u0MrZmlQvsNWm_pHWSxWjnK5Jf1LVgpA a7tXAko69IChPIbTj1Z63nbxOWhWyqjGxjf15hpmbdAicgSSVF WzwPwXrQ8x85ktr4voRZKlhGQtrcy-I_Iy4DSWE
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mvAdwalLbQuB2RO3uNkwBpifGoo9sS0GDAFKx-Te1yyj429p8d8H48snoPqPggQgW74ikwVysKQaRfG-wGAbkk3z4zPvqEfyVBTkdRqpOFW3BuSAViD65BqmqY8IpR32ZO Wcmb3hf-Q


Is the spacing from hole center to hole center, or between the spars?

[jiott]

It is center to center.

[efwd]

some people build an airframe rotisserie. I just used the method depicted in the manual. 2X4s bolted to the firewall.. Its very simple to tip it onto its side and upside down. The flipping of the frame is needed far less frequently than the wings.
Eddie

[PapuaPilot]

To rotate my airframe I put a piece of plywood on the front using the engine mount holes and bolts. I cut about 6" off each corner at a 45 degree angle. This worked really well during painting. I could grab and rotate it with the plywood. I had a sawhorse with padding under the tail too so it could just turn and stay on the pad. I considered rounding the corners, but actually liked how I could make it stop at 45 degrees. I felt like I had better control.

To rotate my wings I had simple PVC pieces that inserted into the ends of the spars. When I wanted to rotate the wing I would move one sawhorse out from under both PVC pipes to the single pipe. Then I went to the other end, which was still on both pipes and pick it up to rotate the wing. When I put it back down that end was still on both pipes to prevent it from rotating. Then I went back to the other end and put the sawhorse under both pipes.

[Flybyjim]

Nice looking paint booth also!

[PapuaPilot]

Nice looking paint booth also!

Yeah, this is the paint booth where I work. It was so nice to have it available. I didn't have to worry about getting a compressor, air dryer, forced air mask, hoses, etc. I did buy a $20 HF HVLP spray gun that worked very well. :)

We do a lot of painting of planes and components. We can fit any single engine fuselage or wings in there.

[DesertFox4]

This is the fuselage stand we use. It bolts into the engine mount locations on the fuselage. It allows both a 45 degree and a 90 degree tilt in either direction. The two bottom posts have casters welded to them for easy rolling around the shop. Covers most needs for covering and painting.
On the tail is a stand made out of a desk chair bottom with the casters in place and a metal post that attaches to the lowest rudder attachment point. It has a rod end bearing welded to the top of the post which allows swiveling in either direction. Easy for one person to rotate the fuselage without assistance.


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14932

[Flyboy66]

If you look at Tom Waid's website he has pictures and dimensions. His website is tropicaltuba.com. I built mine similar to his and they work great.

I just finished looking through Toms photos. Very informative. I will be referencing them throughout my build. I did see the above post that showed the inside diameter of the wing spar tubes.

[Esser]

No word from Tom in a long time...hopefully all is well

[jiott]

Yes, I wonder about him too. I can't imagine being that close to done and not flying it. Be nice to know everything is OK. I have followed his build from day1, a very nice informative site.

[Tom Waid]

No word from Tom in a long time...hopefully all is well

In a paperwork limbo. I should be flying soon.

[Esser]

Ahh! Glad to hear it’s just paperwork. Looking forward to seeing it fly Tom