Turtledeck Slot Seal

[n85ae]

This subject comes up often, and I thought I would post what I did on mine. I
didn't like the Chicago winter blowing in behind me, so I fabricated these plates
in about 15 minutes ... I take them out in the summer when the weather here
turns from Siberia to Cambodia ...

Jeff

[DesertFox4]

Simple and effective. Two things I appreciate.

[n85ae]

It's not very elegant, but it works well, and it was simple. I was out at the
airport getting ready for winter, and figured I would post pics since I have seen
people ask in the past.

Jeff

[aviator79]

Something to consider for new builders: If you hinge the turtledeck, you don't need the slots at all.

[jrevens]

If you do the hinge like I did, I think you still need to slot the opening if you want to be able to remove the entire turtledeck to fold the wings, etc. in fact, even to get it on initially, unless you want to remove the flaperons first.

[jrevens]

Thinking about it a little more, you may be right, Brian. A single cut on both sides, in the right place, would probably do it. Good thinking! I guess the reason I didn't even think about it is because I already had the slots cut when I came up with my hinge installation.

[aviator79]

I talked to Brandon about it a bit. I think its possible. Much easier if you have not yet installed the flaperons. I'm going to use the two inboard hinges (one from each wing) bolted to the two inboard brackets on a single wing to guide a dowel that will locate the hole on the turtledeck. I think the cut downward from the hole should be tangent to the front of the hole. That should allow the front of the turtledeck to rotate down into position just like it would with a notch. When I get to it, I'll try to photo document it.

[aviator79]

I apologize if this is a thread hijack, but here's an illustration of what I'm thinking.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CvRSp3zoub2dUT8S6kp21axy5nivMu9Iw_ucLHXZTITgUH8aT3 mB0SJ1gVkJZ-S9mj5bA-bhJR2frGC692o-mM0vRTSpGlHVQK5Qb12JrzwQUA0wz2oDdETIQELmt9EJGoTB0T fbOfQ=w600

[jrevens]

Exactly... but you want to be sure that the angle of the cut allows you to lift up the rear edge of the assembly and shift it back enough to clear the rear edge of the skylight and the flaperon tubes. In other words, just like the "normal" slot would be but not making the rear cut. I found that a straight cut at the proper angle worked well, instead of the curved cut shown in the book.

[Bartman1959]

This subject comes up often, and I thought I would post what I did on mine. I
didn't like the Chicago winter blowing in behind me, so I fabricated these plates
in about 15 minutes ... I take them out in the summer when the weather here
turns from Siberia to Cambodia ...

Jeff


I think I need to do something similar since on Friday's flight, my wife was complaining about wind on the back of her neck.

[rv9ralph]

The whole tailbone can be a wind tunnel.

Ralph

[jrevens]

So true... so sometimes you just have to stay away from the Mexican food. :eek:

I just couldn’t help myself, Ralph.

[rv9ralph]

Don't blame you. But that darn auto correct... it's my worst enema.

Ralph

[jmodguy]

16576
I found these at mcmaster.com. ID is 3/4" and OD is 3" They are a split seal and should make an airtight seal... A little pricey at $30 ea but it's an airplane part...

[jiott]

Jeff, totally unnecessary to spend that kind of money. Just use some 1/4" foam/rubber, some contact cement and cut a piece wide enough to cover the slot with some overlap for cementing, a 3/4" hole at the top with a slit runing to the bottom.

[Mcgaero]

I'm still laughing at this autocorrect business..!

This is what I did with the flaperon hole on my turtledeck, the rubber part is an automotive knuckle joint boot that stays on the flaperon shaft and pushes in from the back. I like johns idea of hinging the turtledeck and will probably do this aft of this boot and the intersection fearing to the wing.
This is an old photo and everything is covered and painted now.
16579

[aviator79]

Man, look at the bodywork on that strake. Ben's plane may end up being the most beautiful Kitfox on the planet.