Work out how to get her out of the garage without major demolition work.
Called Andy who has agreed to pop over tomorrow for first inspection
Called Andy who has agreed to pop over tomorrow for first inspection
Building Gertrude
Diary 1
11/04/05
14/04/05
18/04/05
19/04/05
20/04/05
22/04/05
04/05/05
Andy Buchan visits and signs off
paperwork to BMAA
paperwork to BMAA
Started build.
Built forward fuselage frame
Built forward fuselage frame
Bult wheels
Ordered Mityvac for brake
bleeding.
Paperwork arrived from BMAA.
Designated HB/451
bleeding.
Paperwork arrived from BMAA.
Designated HB/451
Sent application for CofR to CAA.
Call confirmed I can have
G-ERTE. So she will be Gertrude.
Call confirmed I can have
G-ERTE. So she will be Gertrude.
Built rear frame and mounted
undercarriage and wheels
undercarriage and wheels
Delivery to Harmston.
05/05/05
Tightened rear frame.
Started to install brakes.
Started to install brakes.
07/05/05
Connected up brakes and
painted over all tightened bolt
ends. Found all parts for tail
build and laid out ready. drilled
and lockwired trim tab hinge.
painted over all tightened bolt
ends. Found all parts for tail
build and laid out ready. drilled
and lockwired trim tab hinge.
22nd April Steve at CAA confirmed that G-ERTE was available, so Gertrude she is.
4th May on with the undercarriage and front forks.
5th May tried to fit the brake calipers. I could not undo the bolt to hand the port side brake,
nearly at point of sending it back to Sywell, Dave suggested I try a local garage with air
tools. Went to LMS lawnmowers at Wellingore and the guys there got the bolt out using
the air tools. No problem after that.
Thanks to Andy for suggesting I buy a bench press, it has been worth it's weight in gold
for jobs like drilling out the brake caliper mounting holes.
4th May on with the undercarriage and front forks.
5th May tried to fit the brake calipers. I could not undo the bolt to hand the port side brake,
nearly at point of sending it back to Sywell, Dave suggested I try a local garage with air
tools. Went to LMS lawnmowers at Wellingore and the guys there got the bolt out using
the air tools. No problem after that.
Thanks to Andy for suggesting I buy a bench press, it has been worth it's weight in gold
for jobs like drilling out the brake caliper mounting holes.
She's got legs and a name
19:30 on the 11th April 2005. Kevin arrived with the kit.
Many thanks to Kevin for agreeing to deliver it on his
way home. He must be mad as he travels from near
Sleaford to Sywell every day just for the priviledge of
working for Paul!
Many thanks to Kevin for agreeing to deliver it on his
way home. He must be mad as he travels from near
Sleaford to Sywell every day just for the priviledge of
working for Paul!
It's arrived
Take Gary's advice read the manual
09/05/05
Fitted tail parts.
See comments re MityVac
See comments re MityVac
The brakes work!
Read of problems with
spongey brakes on a
number of sites. So decided
to invest in a MityVac. This
piece of kit along with the
help of MityVal (SWMBO)
really made it a cinch.
Well worth the price in
relation to hassle saved.
Brakes are firm first time
round.
spongey brakes on a
number of sites. So decided
to invest in a MityVac. This
piece of kit along with the
help of MityVal (SWMBO)
really made it a cinch.
Well worth the price in
relation to hassle saved.
Brakes are firm first time
round.
Fitted rudder and elevator cables
13/05/05
Tidy up cable runs, fit seats,
seatbelts, luggage bag.
seatbelts, luggage bag.
I can pretend I am flying!
Today was a great day! (11th May) I did not get started until noon but fitting the elevator and
rudder cables was a breeze. Only modification needed was to insert a thinner plastic
washer to port of portside cable runner in order to clear seat.
Left at 15:30 for Caunton; AT LAST weather is good and Andy gave me the all clear to do a
cross country for real. Caunton - Hougham- Grove farm and back to Caunton (one down
and one to go.
rudder cables was a breeze. Only modification needed was to insert a thinner plastic
washer to port of portside cable runner in order to clear seat.
Left at 15:30 for Caunton; AT LAST weather is good and Andy gave me the all clear to do a
cross country for real. Caunton - Hougham- Grove farm and back to Caunton (one down
and one to go.
She's got a tail that waggles!
The only technique seems to be the tape on the spanner as suggested in manual. This
would have been one area where it would have made sense to have done this at the
factory.
Then I get told to cut her skin!!! Tried to keep cuts small but rear tailplane attachment bolt
is too close to fuselage tube to get spanner with tape in place. Gave up in the end and cut
a bigger hole, inserted little finger and job done.
This must be what Gary meant by character building!
The day ended well though as elevators got fitted.
would have been one area where it would have made sense to have done this at the
factory.
Then I get told to cut her skin!!! Tried to keep cuts small but rear tailplane attachment bolt
is too close to fuselage tube to get spanner with tape in place. Gave up in the end and cut
a bigger hole, inserted little finger and job done.
This must be what Gary meant by character building!
The day ended well though as elevators got fitted.
I've spent all this money and you want me to cut her skin!!!!
It's like a giant meccano kit
The manual is excellent and really does take you
through it step by step.
I have had a slight problem identifying some parts
as many parts are not numbered and it takes
some detective work figuring out which piece it
might be. Gary and Dave have been patient and
helpful with some of my numpty questions. Note
Dave hides bits inside tubes so look there before
assuming a part is missing.
through it step by step.
I have had a slight problem identifying some parts
as many parts are not numbered and it takes
some detective work figuring out which piece it
might be. Gary and Dave have been patient and
helpful with some of my numpty questions. Note
Dave hides bits inside tubes so look there before
assuming a part is missing.
End of April
11/05/05
12/05/05
Stage 2 inspection complete
14/05/05
Tidy up bits from inspection
Attention to detail!
Andy carried out a 3 hour inspection today (13th May). His thoroughness ensures that
nothing gets missed.
nothing gets missed.
Attention to detail!
Clean up the issues raised from inspection. Rudder pedals too tight (I put too many
washers in); Central bracing pieces incorrectly installed (Duh my lack of studying the
drawings). Things like this mean I am running out of spare 6mm nyloc nuts, a call to Kevin
and they were delivered by 19:00. Now that's what I call service. THANKS AGAIN KEVIN!!
Monday I will call Gavin re front wheel which still does not align satisfactorily.
washers in); Central bracing pieces incorrectly installed (Duh my lack of studying the
drawings). Things like this mean I am running out of spare 6mm nyloc nuts, a call to Kevin
and they were delivered by 19:00. Now that's what I call service. THANKS AGAIN KEVIN!!
Monday I will call Gavin re front wheel which still does not align satisfactorily.
17-18/05/05
control cables.control cables.
Give her some body
Decided I must have done something wrong so took front wheel apart and re-built it.
Bingo it fits perfectly, must have mis-aligned somewhere along the way.
Tuesday 17th and time for my second qualifying cross country. Not pleasant flying, a lot of
low cloud and rain to fly around, bumpy and fear of carb iceing. Flight was uneventful
though until the landings. I must have landing lurgy, well actually the landings are fine I
have proved to myself I can land in many strange attitudes, the problem is setting up a
decent approach, too high then too low, ah well back to the building. Time to put the
covering on the back. All went well with no wrinkles. The covering seems to be a perfect fit.
Time to tidy up workshop to make room for wing building.
Bingo it fits perfectly, must have mis-aligned somewhere along the way.
Tuesday 17th and time for my second qualifying cross country. Not pleasant flying, a lot of
low cloud and rain to fly around, bumpy and fear of carb iceing. Flight was uneventful
though until the landings. I must have landing lurgy, well actually the landings are fine I
have proved to myself I can land in many strange attitudes, the problem is setting up a
decent approach, too high then too low, ah well back to the building. Time to put the
covering on the back. All went well with no wrinkles. The covering seems to be a perfect fit.
Time to tidy up workshop to make room for wing building.
19-26/05/05
Flyfishing got in the way! But lacing
and tightening during this time
and tightening during this time
27/05/05
Time to start a new page,
continued on tab "build Diary 2"
continued on tab "build Diary 2"
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