Building Gertrude
Build Story 2
27/05/05
Engine installed, see story line
re Ken Rigley
Engine installed, see story line
re Ken Rigley
The manual told me to remove the CDI
As I don't know what the f*** that is, it seemed time to call on the help of an
expert.
Ken Rigley of Hovercraft fame kindly agreed to come over and install the engine.
Bloody good job I asked as I know I would have cocked this up.
Ken is a great bloke check out his website just click here
As I don't know what the f*** that is, it seemed time to call on the help of an
expert.
Ken Rigley of Hovercraft fame kindly agreed to come over and install the engine.
Bloody good job I asked as I know I would have cocked this up.
Ken is a great bloke check out his website just click here
Bloody Lacing
Finally made a pair of lacing
hooks. Nicked a couple of
fondue forks from the kitchen
filed off the prongs bent into
hook and slotted into a piece of
old curtain rail. Just the job and
progress speeded up
considerably.
Finally made a pair of lacing
hooks. Nicked a couple of
fondue forks from the kitchen
filed off the prongs bent into
hook and slotted into a piece of
old curtain rail. Just the job and
progress speeded up
considerably.
26/05/05
More bloody lacing, but see tip
on right for tip to make easier
More bloody lacing, but see tip
on right for tip to make easier
06/06/05
Spent the last week tidying up
and started wing build.
Today trial fitted wings;
ailerons; and flaps. All seems
good although port aileron will
need easing a little.
Spent the last week tidying up
and started wing build.
Today trial fitted wings;
ailerons; and flaps. All seems
good although port aileron will
need easing a little.
02/06/05
Disaster fitting the ventral fin.
The front end was behind the
fixing rail. (It's meant to be in
front). Tried to tweak it and the
tube snapped! Will have to visit
Sywell to see what to do. Dave
as ever helpful when I called.
Disaster fitting the ventral fin.
The front end was behind the
fixing rail. (It's meant to be in
front). Tried to tweak it and the
tube snapped! Will have to visit
Sywell to see what to do. Dave
as ever helpful when I called.
She's got wings (of a sort)
6th June trial fitted wings with Val's help. After fitting wired up the ailerons and
fitted the flaps. All is good although port aileron will need easing a little.
Bugger we had to dismantle it all again in order to put her back in the garage.
Oh well reckon it means we are ready to call Andy for inspection before wings
get covered.
6th June trial fitted wings with Val's help. After fitting wired up the ailerons and
fitted the flaps. All is good although port aileron will need easing a little.
Bugger we had to dismantle it all again in order to put her back in the garage.
Oh well reckon it means we are ready to call Andy for inspection before wings
get covered.
07/07/05
No, I have not given up.
Just returned from a great
vacation in Slovenia.
Took the broken ventral fin to
Sywell.
Dave as ever was a great help
and a couple of hours later I
was on my way with repaired
fin.
Fitted fin fine, moved flap lever
to starboard to allow for UK
mods.
No, I have not given up.
Just returned from a great
vacation in Slovenia.
Took the broken ventral fin to
Sywell.
Dave as ever was a great help
and a couple of hours later I
was on my way with repaired
fin.
Fitted fin fine, moved flap lever
to starboard to allow for UK
mods.
11/07/05
Finally passed my GFT!
Thanks Andy
Finally passed my GFT!
Thanks Andy
05/08/05
Where did July go??
Actually having fun flying
Matilda and getting her into her
new home just down the road
from where we live.
Back to Gerte and covering the
wings.
WARNING!!
The cables in the wing drop
behind the leading edge spar
when tightening the wing and
jam there. This dummy allowed
it to happen twice, once behind
one of the ribs. Had to take the
rib out to free the cable.
Other than this all seems to
have gone smoothly as usual
just follw the manual.
Where did July go??
Actually having fun flying
Matilda and getting her into her
new home just down the road
from where we live.
Back to Gerte and covering the
wings.
WARNING!!
The cables in the wing drop
behind the leading edge spar
when tightening the wing and
jam there. This dummy allowed
it to happen twice, once behind
one of the ribs. Had to take the
rib out to free the cable.
Other than this all seems to
have gone smoothly as usual
just follw the manual.
23/08/05
Fitted the covered and finished
wings today, in order to position
cabin uprights correctly.
See tip re wing fitting in story
section.
Fitted the covered and finished
wings today, in order to position
cabin uprights correctly.
See tip re wing fitting in story
section.
She's got wings (for real!)
23rd August fitted wings with Val's help again.
The support frame and wingtip protectors (see photo) supplied with the wing
fold kit are worth the expense for helping make wing fitting easy. All went well
and aligning the cabin uprights was pretty straightforward.
23rd August fitted wings with Val's help again.
The support frame and wingtip protectors (see photo) supplied with the wing
fold kit are worth the expense for helping make wing fitting easy. All went well
and aligning the cabin uprights was pretty straightforward.
Wing tip prop
and wing tip
protector.
and wing tip
protector.
23/08/05
Below is my pal Harrison who
has come round to check
progress
Below is my pal Harrison who
has come round to check
progress
23/08/05
Even got SWMBO to try a seater
today. Mind you I would never
have got the wings on without
Val's help.
Even got SWMBO to try a seater
today. Mind you I would never
have got the wings on without
Val's help.
Built cowling, see ideas in main
section.
section.
28/08/05
The idea of drilling through a
piece of drainpipe at the
900mm centres to tie the cabin
uprights in place seems to have
worked. Similar arrangement in
the centre to tie the pipe in
place to the frame
The idea of drilling through a
piece of drainpipe at the
900mm centres to tie the cabin
uprights in place seems to have
worked. Similar arrangement in
the centre to tie the pipe in
place to the frame
28/08/05
Used Cleco pins from LAS to
temporarily hold cowl
together. I seem to have lost
some parts and had to call
Gary for new prop bolts to
place the spinner before I fix
cowl in place. Copious
amounts of bubble wrap
used to hold the cowl at
correct position.
Used Cleco pins from LAS to
temporarily hold cowl
together. I seem to have lost
some parts and had to call
Gary for new prop bolts to
place the spinner before I fix
cowl in place. Copious
amounts of bubble wrap
used to hold the cowl at
correct position.
09/09/05
The manual tells me to use
fibreglass fillets to fix the
firewall to the cowling.
No fillets, called Sywell and got
the man himself PD (not often I
get to talk to a World Champion!
What a great achievement "well
done Paul").
Paul suggested I build a
fibreglass layer right down the
join. A quick visit to Ken Rigley
to get some advice and
fibreglass matting. The stuff
seems to set really quickly so
fast work is called for. Glad I did
it though, seems stronger to
me. Added heat proof sealant
on engine side bought from LAS
and all seems pretty solid.
The oil cooler and tank + pipes
was fairly straightforward BUT
watch where you put the oil
cooler; I did not realise the pipe
connectors would sit so high
and had to re-fit.
The manual tells me to use
fibreglass fillets to fix the
firewall to the cowling.
No fillets, called Sywell and got
the man himself PD (not often I
get to talk to a World Champion!
What a great achievement "well
done Paul").
Paul suggested I build a
fibreglass layer right down the
join. A quick visit to Ken Rigley
to get some advice and
fibreglass matting. The stuff
seems to set really quickly so
fast work is called for. Glad I did
it though, seems stronger to
me. Added heat proof sealant
on engine side bought from LAS
and all seems pretty solid.
The oil cooler and tank + pipes
was fairly straightforward BUT
watch where you put the oil
cooler; I did not realise the pipe
connectors would sit so high
and had to re-fit.
08/09/05
Fibreglass fillet attaching
firewall to cowling. Rivets
used to hold fillet to firewall
Fibreglass fillet attaching
firewall to cowling. Rivets
used to hold fillet to firewall
20/09/05
It really is worth fabricating a cardboard cutout of the instrument panel. Use
double sided tape for the instrument pieces. The panel arrangement has changed
anumber of times before I finally decided on the layout. Ordered an AvMap EKP1V
GPS from Mendellsens in Edinburgh today as well as a MicroAir Transponder.
Flew over to Caunton this evening to see Andy re the Icom and Lynx headsets I
have ordered from him.
It really is worth fabricating a cardboard cutout of the instrument panel. Use
double sided tape for the instrument pieces. The panel arrangement has changed
anumber of times before I finally decided on the layout. Ordered an AvMap EKP1V
GPS from Mendellsens in Edinburgh today as well as a MicroAir Transponder.
Flew over to Caunton this evening to see Andy re the Icom and Lynx headsets I
have ordered from him.
20/09/05
The last few days have been
spend finishing of fuel lines;
carb heaters; throttle cables,
etc.
Started to cut dashboard today,
but decide it was too good to be
stuck in a garage so went flying
instead.
Earlier in the day ordered
transponder and GPS from
Harry Mendellsen (speak to
Roy, he gives excellent service).
Finally got a reply from RAM
mounting systems only to find
they have a U.K. subsidiary, so
was able to order a floor
mounting system (a la
helicopters) for the AvMap GPS
system.
Tonight I tried to use my radio in
Matilda for the first time legally.
Readability -1 so Waddington
never heard a word of my calls.
They did appreciate me trying
though and were most
courteous when I called ( by
phone to say goodnight).
See hints side re instrument
panel design idea.
The last few days have been
spend finishing of fuel lines;
carb heaters; throttle cables,
etc.
Started to cut dashboard today,
but decide it was too good to be
stuck in a garage so went flying
instead.
Earlier in the day ordered
transponder and GPS from
Harry Mendellsen (speak to
Roy, he gives excellent service).
Finally got a reply from RAM
mounting systems only to find
they have a U.K. subsidiary, so
was able to order a floor
mounting system (a la
helicopters) for the AvMap GPS
system.
Tonight I tried to use my radio in
Matilda for the first time legally.
Readability -1 so Waddington
never heard a word of my calls.
They did appreciate me trying
though and were most
courteous when I called ( by
phone to say goodnight).
See hints side re instrument
panel design idea.
Time to fit the front spat. GERTE
got an airing onto the grass
where I could tie her down in
order to remove the front fork.
Glad I did this now as any
further with the build and it
would be a pig to get at the front
leg attachment.
Laminated the instrument panel
with a Burlwood laminate from
FoliaTec in Germany. This is an
amazing marterial that looks
fabulous and is great for
working round curves by using
a hotair gun to soften the
laminate. (See photo 30/09/05 I
am dead chuffed with the
finished product).
29/09/05
Andy came round today to
check progress and start to
check what is needed for the
final wiring. He gave me a load
of tips and also delivered the
radio, hourmeter etc.
He seemed pretty pleased with
progress especially when I
gave him a cheque for all the
bits and bobs he delivered.
30/09/05
Fitted the hourmeter and radio
to the instrument panel
got an airing onto the grass
where I could tie her down in
order to remove the front fork.
Glad I did this now as any
further with the build and it
would be a pig to get at the front
leg attachment.
Laminated the instrument panel
with a Burlwood laminate from
FoliaTec in Germany. This is an
amazing marterial that looks
fabulous and is great for
working round curves by using
a hotair gun to soften the
laminate. (See photo 30/09/05 I
am dead chuffed with the
finished product).
29/09/05
Andy came round today to
check progress and start to
check what is needed for the
final wiring. He gave me a load
of tips and also delivered the
radio, hourmeter etc.
He seemed pretty pleased with
progress especially when I
gave him a cheque for all the
bits and bobs he delivered.
30/09/05
Fitted the hourmeter and radio
to the instrument panel
GOTO DIARY 3
FOR MORE
PHOTO'S
FOR MORE
PHOTO'S
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