Pietenpol-List: Various
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2000 10:57 am
Original Posted By: "Greg Yotz"
First - the Sun'n'Fun thing was a blast. This year, my wife and I drove down fromWisconsin seated on Corinthian leather. First time I have not flown, andfirst time my wife Dee attended. Great to see Bill Rewey, who flew his Piet all the way from Wisconsin again. Thanksto Bert Conoly for honchoing the woodcraft shop, along with Dick Navratiland Charlie Rubeck (Charlie, I'm still working on your elixer of life). Haddinner with Alan Wise and his wife at the OX-5 party. Ted Brousseau has addedanother Piet to his stable in Naples, FL (trailered it down from Michigan lastsummer). Again, thanks for the flight, Ted. And, of course, William Wynne'sCorvair forum had to extend the discussion outside the tent after the onehour period was up.As a Sun'n'Fun Raider (we are the volunteers who pick up all your garbage) I manageto keep busy, but always make sure I get to the forums and workshops andthe flightline. Can you imagine a bunch of guys flying down in their Bonanzasto haul garbage? Great group! And our business is picking up every year! Ibook a condo near the Lakeland airport each year, and may have room for a personor two next year (we sleep six people or so).Now to the fabric covering process. In the last two years, John Monnett and Ihave done probably three Cubs and two Vagabonds using the Superflite fabric system.You need to be careful of your breathing while spraying, so use a low pressuresystem with a breathing supply and a paper suit and mask. We drape offa section of shop for proper overboard ventilation of fumes. You have to mixjust what you need for spraying and work right along, as the pot life is limitedto a couple of hours. Anything left over is discarded, so have some smallparts (ailerons, tail) where you can use up any excess spray material (spraythe wings or fuselage first).When taping, I have found that the cement will show through the final coats ifit is applied too liberally out past the pinked edge of the tape. So I use someMEK on a rag to carefully "chemically sand" the edges of the tapes after theyhave dried. This removes any excess cement, but ensures the pinked edges beingglued down. It's a bit of an art, but you will learn real fast.The Superflite system is very similar to the Stits PolyFiber system, which I havealso used. Both are very good. Don't worry about your ability to cover thecurves (not many on a Piet anyway). The warm iron will do just fine. Be sureto set up your iron at the proper temperature (the book tells you how). Thisis key to the shrinking, so don't short cut here. Use the proper thermometerand do it right.Lately, of course, I've been out of the fabric thing, since the Sonex is all metal.The Sonex will not take the Corvair engine (too heavy), but the next Sonexalready has the first of a new series of big VW engines installed and shouldbe flying in a couple of weeks. We expect some 75-80 hp, and that will bringthe scratch built Sonex into the $10,000 range, complete with engine. Meanwhile,I'm starting a new Corvair buildup for my Piet. (Too many planes, not enoughyears)For you Ford Model A people - Bob Whittier says in the April issue of "Experimenter"(page 41) that he has heard from Model A nuts that easily get 70 hp andsome get 200 hp souped up. This comes from "Secrets" magazine, P.O.Box 957436,Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-7436. Phone (312) 558-9338. Get your "Experimenter"magazine from EAA for more of Bob's info on suppliers, etc. He lists WesternAircraft Supplies, 623 Marketville Road, NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 5K1 as asupplier for Sitka spruce wing construction kits @ $862 US and fuselage/tailkits for $686 US. There is a $30 US crating charge for each kit.You can call Replicraft (973)402-2102 in Boonton NJ (e-mail replicraft(at)aol.com)for their catalog of Piet parts and supplies and building kits. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty's catalog lists spruce of all sizes, and also has aspruce wood kit for the GN-1 for $823 (at last printing).After the woodshop sessions at Sun'n'Fun, it turns out that Sitka spruce is thelumber of choice for a Piet, but significant money can be saved by going to analternate for many parts (fir, cedar, etc.) Just know what you are doing strengthwiseif you substitute.You're right, Bert! Only in America! Pietenpols Forever!Doc MosherOshkosh USA ________________________________________________________________________________
First - the Sun'n'Fun thing was a blast. This year, my wife and I drove down fromWisconsin seated on Corinthian leather. First time I have not flown, andfirst time my wife Dee attended. Great to see Bill Rewey, who flew his Piet all the way from Wisconsin again. Thanksto Bert Conoly for honchoing the woodcraft shop, along with Dick Navratiland Charlie Rubeck (Charlie, I'm still working on your elixer of life). Haddinner with Alan Wise and his wife at the OX-5 party. Ted Brousseau has addedanother Piet to his stable in Naples, FL (trailered it down from Michigan lastsummer). Again, thanks for the flight, Ted. And, of course, William Wynne'sCorvair forum had to extend the discussion outside the tent after the onehour period was up.As a Sun'n'Fun Raider (we are the volunteers who pick up all your garbage) I manageto keep busy, but always make sure I get to the forums and workshops andthe flightline. Can you imagine a bunch of guys flying down in their Bonanzasto haul garbage? Great group! And our business is picking up every year! Ibook a condo near the Lakeland airport each year, and may have room for a personor two next year (we sleep six people or so).Now to the fabric covering process. In the last two years, John Monnett and Ihave done probably three Cubs and two Vagabonds using the Superflite fabric system.You need to be careful of your breathing while spraying, so use a low pressuresystem with a breathing supply and a paper suit and mask. We drape offa section of shop for proper overboard ventilation of fumes. You have to mixjust what you need for spraying and work right along, as the pot life is limitedto a couple of hours. Anything left over is discarded, so have some smallparts (ailerons, tail) where you can use up any excess spray material (spraythe wings or fuselage first).When taping, I have found that the cement will show through the final coats ifit is applied too liberally out past the pinked edge of the tape. So I use someMEK on a rag to carefully "chemically sand" the edges of the tapes after theyhave dried. This removes any excess cement, but ensures the pinked edges beingglued down. It's a bit of an art, but you will learn real fast.The Superflite system is very similar to the Stits PolyFiber system, which I havealso used. Both are very good. Don't worry about your ability to cover thecurves (not many on a Piet anyway). The warm iron will do just fine. Be sureto set up your iron at the proper temperature (the book tells you how). Thisis key to the shrinking, so don't short cut here. Use the proper thermometerand do it right.Lately, of course, I've been out of the fabric thing, since the Sonex is all metal.The Sonex will not take the Corvair engine (too heavy), but the next Sonexalready has the first of a new series of big VW engines installed and shouldbe flying in a couple of weeks. We expect some 75-80 hp, and that will bringthe scratch built Sonex into the $10,000 range, complete with engine. Meanwhile,I'm starting a new Corvair buildup for my Piet. (Too many planes, not enoughyears)For you Ford Model A people - Bob Whittier says in the April issue of "Experimenter"(page 41) that he has heard from Model A nuts that easily get 70 hp andsome get 200 hp souped up. This comes from "Secrets" magazine, P.O.Box 957436,Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-7436. Phone (312) 558-9338. Get your "Experimenter"magazine from EAA for more of Bob's info on suppliers, etc. He lists WesternAircraft Supplies, 623 Marketville Road, NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 5K1 as asupplier for Sitka spruce wing construction kits @ $862 US and fuselage/tailkits for $686 US. There is a $30 US crating charge for each kit.You can call Replicraft (973)402-2102 in Boonton NJ (e-mail replicraft(at)aol.com)for their catalog of Piet parts and supplies and building kits. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty's catalog lists spruce of all sizes, and also has aspruce wood kit for the GN-1 for $823 (at last printing).After the woodshop sessions at Sun'n'Fun, it turns out that Sitka spruce is thelumber of choice for a Piet, but significant money can be saved by going to analternate for many parts (fir, cedar, etc.) Just know what you are doing strengthwiseif you substitute.You're right, Bert! Only in America! Pietenpols Forever!Doc MosherOshkosh USA ________________________________________________________________________________