Painting: Fuselage

The painting is finally starting to reach it's end. The fuselage is complete. First pics show primer coats being applied, sanded and washed.

The baggage compartment and BRS mount and bridles were masked for protection. No paint required beyond the sheeting shown, as there is a plastic trim piece that will conceal a good percentage of the opening perimeter.

Following pic shows the completely primed and sanded fuse ready for topcoat. First pic shows fine line tape applied, the top of which, marks the division between white and red topcoats. First topcoat to go on is red.

Next pic shows masking paper applied to fine line tape.

I then sheeted the remaining fuse with plastic. Now ready to spray.

Here is application of Matador Red topcoat.

Next, I masked and sheeted all of the newly painted red areas and then sprayed the entire fuse (including cockpit) insignia white (not shown until end).

Now, after the fuselage has been painted either red or white, I then masked off the area for the gray stripe. The gray stripe is painted over the white topcoat 1/2" below the red. This will leave a desired white stripe between the main gray stripe and overlying red. I used 1/2" fine line tape to effect this.

Here is how she looks after pulling it off the stand and getting it back on the gear. Overall, I'm pleased with the results. Had a few areas where "bleed-through" occurred under the fine line tape, such as where the tape was placed over the pinked serrated edge of the dacron covering tape or where the tape was mitered together at turns in the stripe. Also, had a few areas where runs occurred, which were sanded down, but are still evident under proper angle and lighting. I've resolved not to let myself get bogged down with perfection and adhere to the "10 foot rule". Note: the hole on the tail is where I cut my first opening in an inspection ring. A painted metal cover will conceal this. I had to open here in order to get wrench on the bolt that holds the tail spring. Must say it was decidedly tough to put a razor blade through the finished painted skin.

Now on to the doors which will be tricky as have to carry the split red/white and gray stripe forward in perfect alignment to that shown above.

Avionics Panel Redesign

Well it turns out Dynon has begun shipping their new everything-in-one flight information/engine monitoring units, coined the "Skyview". Cost is slightly more than their Flightdek 180 unit, which is similar but no synthetic vision or plan view imaging of terrain. I think a great value. I spent an evening on the Vans web forum where the debates were flying on the product (between dynon rep. and other competitors); hands-down I'm convinced. I'm still awestruck by this technology even though I understand now how it works. It comes with a 3d terrain map database loaded and, using a gps input signal, can place your position continuously relative to the terrain model. I will use my Garmin 496 for gps input signal. Bummer that I already installed remote compass and OAT for the other unit considered, which is not compatible.

Here is my latest simulated panel plan:

Paint Scheme Design: Yet another one...

Here's one I'm pondering that I pulled (and tweaked with zigzag) from American Champion site. I was thinking with some good plastic fine line tape I could mask the white topcoat below and create the two white stripes, then should be able to blast the two red stripes all at once. Hmmm.... I also like how red stripes stop shy of the spinner... And here's yet another variation of an earlier scheme. I kind of like the white stripe between the gray stripe and the gray stripe set back at the front. Getting down to crunch time now, as begin priming fuse tomorrow. I think it's looking like this one....

Painting: Left Wing

The wings are now complete and painted. Following are pics of finished product for left wing. I discovered during this phase that a handheld vibratory sander works great for sanding primed coats. I found can manage appearance of orange peel by reducing paint 25% on first pass, and then 40% on second pass of cross coat. Biggest challenge now is avoiding runs.

Paint Scheme Design: Revised Again

I'm back to considering a variation of my original design. I wanted to maintain symmetry around the spinner profile centerline: this is accompolished with the white middle stripe up front. I also wanted the split color scheme to merge at the aft corner of the fuselage, which is done here. This design also eliminates a zigzag stripe, which adds more complexity; everything is linear here. Finally, I wanted to keep the top of the door exterior white so there was not an awkward color transition to the white interior at the top of the door.

I'm hoping to just paint the plastic tip bow covers red, so don't have to fool with painting wing or ailerons red and likewise making sure the stripes match up.

Grass Airstrip Design

I've decided to move forward and design an airfield for the plane someday. It's located on a 40 acre parcel I own, which is entirely wooded. I will have a 200' wide swath logged and the proceeds will go towards development of a 1,400' by 75' wide landing strip. The 75' width will be completely grubbed and regraded. Topsoil will be stripped, stockpiled and then replaced. Seeding, fertilizing and mulching will then follow.


Following is my initial shot at a regrading/drainage plan, based off a site topo survey I performed. Proposed ground in pink, contour interval=1'. Stationing=50'. Several PVC culverts will be constructed under the strip.
Next figure shows a profile of the finished grade centerline, extending at -0.3 and -1.6%, respectively.
Next figure shows some of the cross sections. In general, the runway will be crowned to drain at 1.5% in each direction and then side-slopes will be constructed at 3:1. The site was designed to balance cut/fills with a net quantity moved of 2,800 CY.

Revised Paint Scheme

After much long and hard deliberation, I have finally settled on a paint scheme that looks good yet limits complexity. However, still not sure on stripe color...black is quickly fading from contention...gray seems to speak to me most, but what shade?