Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Re: Pietenpol-List: Article on Ken PerkinsOK, I am starting to cut metal to make my cockpit coaming. The plans show the metal, for example between the two cockpits as being made of two separate pieces. It is similar for the forward pieces. It looks like many of you have built your metal per the plans. I am wondering whether there is any practical reason for this? I would prefer to make it out of one piece. One potential reason I can see is in some of the original drawings, it looks like one piece of metal covers the area back to the instrument panel and the separate piece is angled upwards from the panel back, maybe to allow you to see the panel better. If that is the reason, I still do not want to do it, I don't like the way it looks. Anyone have ideas? Has anyone angled the rear pieces upwards?Gene________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: cockpit metalwork
RE: Pietenpol-List: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Gene, I think you could do it in one piece. The primary reason I didn=92t dothat was that sheet aluminum comes in 4=92 wide sheets, which typically arerolled for shipping. If you make it one piece, you will be trying to rollit against (90=B0 from) the direction it =93wants=94 to curl. If you roll thealuminum the same way it was rolled for shipping, the 4=92 dimension bringsyou just aft of the front cockpit (see photo). Of course, with a Model A,you=92ve got some engine where I have baggage compartment, but still I thinkyou want this cowling to reach to the firewall.Bear in mind that I have a little bit (maybe 3=94) of aluminum up above thelongeron on mine. I think (I=92ve packed the plans away for our eventual moveto Virginia and have no idea where they are now) the plans show the cockpitcoamings right on top of the longerons, like Mike Cuy did on his. I wanteda bit more protection from the wind, and having those long thin sections ofcowling that extend along the longerons just made one long piece way tooflimsy and difficult to handle.Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC _____
Gene, I think you could do it in one piece. The primary reason I didn=92t dothat was that sheet aluminum comes in 4=92 wide sheets, which typically arerolled for shipping. If you make it one piece, you will be trying to rollit against (90=B0 from) the direction it =93wants=94 to curl. If you roll thealuminum the same way it was rolled for shipping, the 4=92 dimension bringsyou just aft of the front cockpit (see photo). Of course, with a Model A,you=92ve got some engine where I have baggage compartment, but still I thinkyou want this cowling to reach to the firewall.Bear in mind that I have a little bit (maybe 3=94) of aluminum up above thelongeron on mine. I think (I=92ve packed the plans away for our eventual moveto Virginia and have no idea where they are now) the plans show the cockpitcoamings right on top of the longerons, like Mike Cuy did on his. I wanteda bit more protection from the wind, and having those long thin sections ofcowling that extend along the longerons just made one long piece way tooflimsy and difficult to handle.Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC _____
Re: Pietenpol-List: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: Jack Phillips
Re: Pietenpol-List: Article on Ken PerkinsI am not talking about making the entire thing from one piece. If you look at the plans, there is the area of metal from the back of the front seat that goes aft and over the rear instrument panel. On the plans, that piece is made of two separate pieces, one from the front seat back to the rear instrument panel, and one curved piece from the rear instrument panel down to the sides that the cockpit padding is attached to. My question is whether there is any reason to make this from two pieces.Gene ----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Article on Ken PerkinsI am not talking about making the entire thing from one piece. If you look at the plans, there is the area of metal from the back of the front seat that goes aft and over the rear instrument panel. On the plans, that piece is made of two separate pieces, one from the front seat back to the rear instrument panel, and one curved piece from the rear instrument panel down to the sides that the cockpit padding is attached to. My question is whether there is any reason to make this from two pieces.Gene ----- Original Message -----
RE: Pietenpol-List: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Can=92t help you with that ' as I said, I have put my plans away for the moveand have no idea where I put them. They=92ll turn up eventually.Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC _____
Can=92t help you with that ' as I said, I have put my plans away for the moveand have no idea where I put them. They=92ll turn up eventually.Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC _____
Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: "Gene Rambo"
Hey Gene,My guess it is because the fuselage starts to taper from the rear instrument panelthrough the rear cockpit and on back. I suppose it makes it easier to makethat piece because of the taper. However as long as you cut your one pieceso that it allows for the taper, I can't see it being a problem. if I were makingmine over again, I'd probably try it. It would make a cleaner installationfor the mounting of the windshield.Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Hey Gene,My guess it is because the fuselage starts to taper from the rear instrument panelthrough the rear cockpit and on back. I suppose it makes it easier to makethat piece because of the taper. However as long as you cut your one pieceso that it allows for the taper, I can't see it being a problem. if I were makingmine over again, I'd probably try it. It would make a cleaner installationfor the mounting of the windshield.Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: Don Emch
Duh! Of course you're right, it is because of the taper. I would probably have seen this when I make cardboard patterns. I knew someone would have an answer.Gene ----- Original Message -----
Duh! Of course you're right, it is because of the taper. I would probably have seen this when I make cardboard patterns. I knew someone would have an answer.Gene ----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: santiago morete
Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: "Jack"
I've been a lurker here for a while and being a dreamer not a builder I haven'tcontributed.But I feel my background as a vintage car alloy bodybuilder (past life) may beof benefit here.You should easily be able to get the amount of taper needed by rolling a longerpiece of alloy as you would the shorter (two piece) version and then carefullyhand forming a tighter curve in the end of the alloy. All you need is a curvedsurface a couple of inches less than the desired circumference to work itover. I'm not sure where the taper starts but if it is where the rear cockpitis it should be even easier just rough cut the cockpit hole to allow a bit moreflexibility.If you want to get really fancy it is possible to do a ramp or lip that curvesup at the front of each cockpit, although I'm not sure of effects on the aero.And the type of alloy used influences the workability.Some examples of whats possible with a bit of persistence and some hammers andhome made toolshttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/acalvert/jag.htmlCheers Tony--------Just LurkingRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
I've been a lurker here for a while and being a dreamer not a builder I haven'tcontributed.But I feel my background as a vintage car alloy bodybuilder (past life) may beof benefit here.You should easily be able to get the amount of taper needed by rolling a longerpiece of alloy as you would the shorter (two piece) version and then carefullyhand forming a tighter curve in the end of the alloy. All you need is a curvedsurface a couple of inches less than the desired circumference to work itover. I'm not sure where the taper starts but if it is where the rear cockpitis it should be even easier just rough cut the cockpit hole to allow a bit moreflexibility.If you want to get really fancy it is possible to do a ramp or lip that curvesup at the front of each cockpit, although I'm not sure of effects on the aero.And the type of alloy used influences the workability.Some examples of whats possible with a bit of persistence and some hammers andhome made toolshttp://homepages.paradise.net.nz/acalvert/jag.htmlCheers Tony--------Just LurkingRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Re: Pietenpol-List: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: santiago morete
Thanks Santiago! I was planning on making mine exactly like you have here, and now I will. Beautiful work, as usual!!Gene ----- Original Message -----
Thanks Santiago! I was planning on making mine exactly like you have here, and now I will. Beautiful work, as usual!!Gene ----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: "auscar"
Well first off congratulations on putting yourself back to work. I must say that I would be very interested in getting a price at the very leastfor a wing kit. The big thing I would be interested in would be the Jig. I'vebeen messin around some with building ribs, and have come to the conclusion thatmy rib jig needs a jig. I'm really not ready to build the wing yet, but UncleObama screwed up and is giving me some money back, so this is the right timefor me to make just such an investment. If you can get the legalities workedout and get something packaged up for a reasonable price I'd sure like to knowabout it. Jim.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Well first off congratulations on putting yourself back to work. I must say that I would be very interested in getting a price at the very leastfor a wing kit. The big thing I would be interested in would be the Jig. I'vebeen messin around some with building ribs, and have come to the conclusion thatmy rib jig needs a jig. I'm really not ready to build the wing yet, but UncleObama screwed up and is giving me some money back, so this is the right timefor me to make just such an investment. If you can get the legalities workedout and get something packaged up for a reasonable price I'd sure like to knowabout it. Jim.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: cockpit metalwork
Original Posted By: "Gene & Tammy"
Thinking about it.Although a PPL would need to be sorted. Took a few lessons years ago but then thecost of the cars got in the way.My wife is keen on the RV 10 so we can put the mtb's in the back and go moutainbiking in other parts of NZ but a Piet is more in my price range. Have to bea steel fuselage.--------Just LurkingRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Thinking about it.Although a PPL would need to be sorted. Took a few lessons years ago but then thecost of the cars got in the way.My wife is keen on the RV 10 so we can put the mtb's in the back and go moutainbiking in other parts of NZ but a Piet is more in my price range. Have to bea steel fuselage.--------Just LurkingRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________