The Build Begins!

[efwd]

Hello SK
Im dealing with the continuous searching of parts now. I considered doing exactly as you suggested. currently I have nuts, bolts, washer etc spread out on a corner of the floor.

[rosslr]

Hey Eddie,

I have only tuned in to your posts today as I am up in Bali at the moment and not tuned in to all things Kitfox. Well done on getting starting! I can sense your enthusiasm and it only seemed like yesterday I was doing the same. I wish you well and look forward to posts on your progress. The advice about getting all your parts sorted and a system to locate them is ESSENTIAL! My only advice is to listen to the guys here - they are generous and offer advice based on a lot of experience - it is the best resource after the manual! Actually, not my only advice... one more piece if I may - when you post, add pics - not only do we all love to see your progress but it makes it much easier to make a considered comment. All the best and looking forward to seeing your progress

ross

[TahoeTim]

"getting your parts sorted and a system to find them"

IMHO, Kitfox did this for you.
I left all the parts including the nuts and bolts in the original cardboard boxes throughout the build. When I started on a task those parts including the bolts are right where they were as shipped. The parts list bill of materials describes each part and which box it is in. If you took everything out of the boxes, especially the bolts, you will have to go with plan B.

Most of the bolt bags have all of a given size for the section of the build binder (fuselage, wing, etc) so you end up with open bags of bolts, nuts, and washers. I used an exacto knife to cut a corner open so the bag with the label isn't spilling all over. I stand the bags up in a 13x9 baking dish so I can flip through the open bags looking for part numbers without spilling them out. I still kept the tray of fuselage bolts separate from the tray of wing bolts.

I dug out all the parts including the number of bolts, nuts, and washers needed before beginning a task and it was no effort at all to assemble things that way. I got my wife involved by having her, with parts list binder in hand pulling parts for the next task while I assembled my current task.

[efwd]

Whomever stated that living near Aircraft Spruce was going to help the build go quicker may be correct and Im discovering sooner than I imagined. The idler arm that connects to the pitch control is supposed to be mounted between two tabs on the left side of the airframe. The tabs are about an eighth of an inch too far apart to allow the AN3-24 bolt to be cotter pinned. Having bent the tabs slightly closer to one another didnt work, thin steel washer didn't work, tightening the nut only causes the bolt to bind up inside the bushings making the idler arm not rotate freely. Anyhow, ordering an AN3-25 bolt today and it should be in my mailbox tomorrow!

[efwd]

Hello
I inadvertently omitted my Laker Leading edge from my kit order. I am contemplating not using it since I have no real idea how difficult it is to install and it seems people say it is almost nearly all cosmetic anyhow. I like it personally but would appreciate it if someone could describe the complexity of the install. I assume it isn't any more difficult than the leading edge that comes with the wings.
Thanks
Eddie

[DesertFox4]

Eddie, a link to my build thread showing some of the install of the LLE and some discussion on my decision to install it.
7 Super Sport LLE install.

[efwd]

IMG_2372.jpg



Here is my first attempt at posting photos of my progress. 2 months pass pretty fast when you jump into a project like this with both feet!

[AirFox]

Keep up the good work. You're moving right along. Keep the pictures coming I'm enjoying the show. All the hard work is worth the end result!
Scott

[Esser]

Looking good, I still wish my fuselage was powder coated black but when I ordered, I didn't know that was an option!

[PapuaPilot]

Yes, it does really look good. Keep up the work.

I like the black too. The only downside to black would be for inspecting it for cracks, it would really make it hard to find them. The best color for finding cracks would be white.