Dan & Cole's 1050 Build

[D&CJohnson]

Installed the seat boxes and the lids I had cut. All just pop rivets per Mr. Williams. I used a flexible plastic hinges and would not repeat. Aluminum piano hinges would have been easier to install. Works fine. Need to think more about seat mounting. The previous builder had drilled for rivets. I would like to keep the seat removable.
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[alexM]

Hopefully they didn't drill into those cross tubes in the fuselage in order to rivet that seat in.

[D&CJohnson]

Hopefully they didn't drill into those cross tubes in the fuselage in order to rivet that seat in.

That was their plan but they never got around to drilling the tubing, only #40 holes in the fiberglass seat pan.

I searched the forum and see some good ideas. We had welded tabs on earlier to mount staps under the seat. I cut one off in an effort to fit the original larger seat storage box. It looks like I will just have to weld one back on or replace it with a clamp. That will give me mounting points for the seat pan.

[Eric Page]

If you need to fill any of the holes made by the first builder, I had good luck with this stuff on my seat pan. It stinks, but it's strong and sands easily (it's glass fiber filled so protect your lungs). It likes warmth when curing, and I would mix it just a tiny bit "hotter" than the instructions call for; I had some difficulty with it not curing properly when I was tight with the MEKP activator.

Total Boat Polyester Structural Repair Putty

[D&CJohnson]

A big box arrived from Grand Rapids. I have started trying to place the 10.1 EFIS and the servos for pitch and roll. I searched thru some photos and came up with a plate for the roll trim servo. I will have to remove some powder coat and weld in that area.

The pitch trim servo looks like it will take more effort. The photos I saw of the later model installations show some structure that is apparently different/missing in the model 4. If anyone has mounted a pitch servo in the 4, I would appreciate a hint. It looks like I may have to weld some structure in near the push tube and use a fitting that clamps onto the push tube. I am sure once of you has been down that road ahead of me.

I was prepared to rework the panel mounts to a accommodate the Horizon 10.1 but after first look, I think flattening the top panel radius a bit and extending the panel bottom down a bit will let the screen go in place without any cutting. Maybe.

[alexM]

Now THAT is a minimalist instrument panel!

[D&CJohnson]

When I began this project and I loaded the droop tips on the truck I knew I would never mount them. They are obscenely heavy. My last K3 did not seem to mind tho. I planned to use flat airfoiled plates like the STOL crowd. Then I picked up a book and could not get the Hoerners off my mind. YouTube had a good how-to video and a buddy has the Hotwire.

I am waiting on some 3D printed parts and some plates to arrive. I was looking for something to do with idle hands between daily rain showers and scud. Then it came to me as black and white as a school bus full of nuns (Thx Dos Gringos). It is time to start making wingtips.

I picked up a sheet of 2 inch foam and a gallon of school glue. In no time my son and I had cut, glued, and stacked the sheets into two blocks.

Next, I need to router a couple of full size rib shapes to guide the Hotwire. No idea if this will turn out a set of wingtips I can be proud of but it is worth a shot.

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[D&CJohnson]

While the site was down I got a small amount done on the project. I was given a hint on mounting the Grand Rapids servos and drew up an Aluminum plate that clamps to the fuselage using 4 Adel clamps. I also worked with a friend to finish the 3D printed ends for the trim tabs. I feel they are much better than the foam ends and will hold the sheet metal spacing where I want it during riveting. I have the hinges, sheet metal, titanium fittings, and end caps ready to drill and assemble.

The servo mount is temporarily bolted in place. I disassembled all my push tubes for paint after buying the project. I am sure the previous builder had the lengths correct but now I won?t be able to set the autopilot servos correctly until mating the wings and checking the controls.

upcoming steps are to Hotwire the foam blocks into wingtip molds and determine more mounting points for some avionics. I am trying to decide which way to skin this cat. I may consider mounting as much of the equipment in my fuselage as I can, then begin cover and paint or I may take the fuselage to work at a friends shop where we will complete the new mount for the 912IS. We have a good idea about how to get the IS where we need it and will show details on that as it comes together.

[D&CJohnson]

Yesterday I ordered new fuel tanks from Kitfox. 4 or 5 months out. My old tanks are installed and have never seen fuel. I weighed some options and decided to put in the ethanol resistant tanks. No plan to run ethanol regularly, but want to build as trouble free of a mount as I can.

Today, I attached the hinges and control arms to the trim tabs. Generally, I stayed with the Kitfox manual for installation. I did make my own printed end caps and titanium control arms. I need to test the servos and then rudder, elevator and horizontal stab could probably be covered.

Whats next? I am at a fork in the road. I can either place the remainder of the avionics/systems that will live aft of the seat and cover the fuselage, or I can haul the airplane to my friends shop and build the mount for the 912is. I really would rather cover it and do fwf later but I am slowly getting pushed in the other direction.

Later Y All