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Thread: Geek's STi Build

  1. #41
    Senior Member
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Took off a week to visit my daughter in FL who is a Navy helo pilot. She just came home from cruise and I haven't seen her in over a year and a half due to Covid so it was a great time. Now home and while gone, my nut plates for my landing light backing plate came in and finally got the whole assembly Hysol'd into the landing light fairing. Also started epoxying in the leading edge. Firmly convinced that Kitfox has some major interest in the blue tape companies since this is how they say to hold the leading edge to the ribs during the epoxying process.

    Landing Light Plate .jpgLanding Light Plate 1 A.jpgLeading Edge 1 A.jpg
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

  2. #42
    DMMeix's Avatar
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Ah, Jacksonville. Only spent a week or two there total. I was on a cruiser out of Norfolk from '10-'12. We were usually just there to pick up and drop off the helo det for deployments though it was nice having pilots onboard to mix up the wardroom dynamic.

    Glad you got to go down there. I thought 8 months was a long cruise. I can only imagine what it's been like on some of the recent carrier cruises.
    Student Pilot
    Here to absorb everything about building a KF.

  3. #43
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Finally got time to work on the plane again. With the landing light fairings all installed the wing tip install to the wings was next on the list. Installed the aluminum strips on to the capstrips of the outer rib. Slipped the wing tip on to the wing and noted over 1/8" gap in some places between the tip and the rib capstrip which was to be expected. Ran a 1 1/4" piece of blue tape on to the wing tip that was lined up on the rib capstrip and drew a line following the outboard edge of that tape on to the tip. That line ran parallel to the rib capstrip. Pulled the tape off and ran another piece of 1" tape that followed the line I drew. That left me with between 1/4" and 1/8" edge of the wing tip to cut off. Used a Dremel with a cutoff wheel and cut along the tape (left the tape on there cause it's easier to see than a drawn line when you're cutting). Installed the wing tip back on to the wing and it fit perfectly. Even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes. Per the instructions, I drilled #40 holes with a 4" spacing through the wing tip and into the aluminum mounting strips, clecoing as I went along. Once complete, I used a straight edge to mark the rear edge of the wing tip and trimmed that to length. Both the right and left wing tips are now fitted. Next will be installing the nut plates on to the aluminum strips that the #8 screws will go into when the wing tip is mounted for final install (after the wing is covered) (Sorry I have not mastered the picture thing where they don't rotate or stay in the order I had them in)

    G
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

  4. #44
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Great work. What nutplates are you going to use to retain those wingtips?
    Kitfox 5 (under construction)
    Commercial SE/ME, CFII

  5. #45
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Thanks. The kit supplies the #8 nut plates which are the longer ones in the pic. I have the shorter version in my stash that I am going to use at the front ends of the strip since I started my hole pattern closer to the front edge and want the extra space between the rivet and the edge of the strip.

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    Attached Images Attached Images
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

  6. #46
    Senior Member Kitfox Pilot's Avatar
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    Spring Garden Illinois
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    I like the new wingtip and light sockets. Everything is looking really nice Gary.
    Harlan and Susan Payne
    Sold Piper Archer
    Flying FarmFox STI Kitfox N61HP
    Rotax 915is, Airmaster prop
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5A...oCVUP15G0uB-Yw

  7. #47
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Thanks Harlan. Still getting a lot of good info from your vids.

    G
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

  8. #48
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Well since I didn't make the pilgrimage to Oshkosh I got to do a little more work on the Kitfox. After fitting the wing tips I needed to install the nut plates on the mounting strips so that was today's fun. Got them all drilled and the riveted. Now I guess I get to put them away somewhere that I won't lose them and then install them after covering the wing.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

  9. #49
    Senior Member jiott's Avatar
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    A tip I found useful-try the screws in the nutplates; many of them will be really tight, so that the phillips screwdriver wants to strip the screw head. If that is the case, carefully squeeze the nutplate with vice-grips so the threaded bushing is a little less oval shaped. That will loosen up the fit. Much easier to do before you install the strips on the wing.
    Jim Ott
    Portland, OR
    Kitfox SS7 flying
    Rotax 912ULS

  10. #50
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    Default Re: Geek's STi Build

    Good tip. Was thinking about using allen button head screws to replace the phillips head. Good news is that they don't strip easily. Bad news is that a phillips head screw driver is much easier to find when you're not at home than the right size allen key. I will go through and check the nut plates cause you're right-much easier to do off than installed.

    Thanks

    Gary
    Gary (Geek) Phenning
    Leavenworth (Not the Prison), WA
    Kitfox STi in Building Stage

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