long ez plans

[H.T.M.]

I am purchasing a LongEz project this weekend and am wondering what to look for as far as plans serial # or do they have titles?

[Linda]

Serial number does not matter.  You may get a set of plans with the project.  If not you should get a complete set to build from and also to check the parts you are buying.  Later during the flyng and maintence life of your bird you will refer back to these over and over.  Get a good set.
EJ  N36EJ

[H.T.M.]

Thank you for responding ... The person I am buying from said that they have complete plans, but don't you have to register or title by some serial # ?
The project I am purchasing is a completed fuesalage and what looks to be all the material to finish ..Any pointers would be greatly appreciated about what to look at or for in this buy.

[admin]

You can assign any serial number you would like. Complete plans include two building manuals with section
one dealing with the airframe and the second manual dealing with the engine installation. There should be
a set of drawings A1 through A9. See pictures here: http://v2.ez.org/plans.htm

As far as the materials, one thing to watch out for is expired epoxy as it has a short shelf life. I would try to get
an experienced builder to take a look at the project. The cost and time to build just the fuselage is relativity small
compared to everything that comes after and is a great place to learn the process.

There are many parts that were sold by Brock(no longer in business) that would be a plus if they are included. But if not
most are being sold be other suppliers or can be made if not.

[A. Bruce Hughes]

First:  Do NOT buy a project unless the manual is with it.  It is ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL.    It may have been sold already on ebay.   There is one for sale now
on ebay #3204212158521.   I have seen those manuals sell for $1000+

Be VERY careful when buying a project.   Have an EXPERT check it out.   There are
few experts around.   Where do you live and I can suggest someone within 500 miles
but I do not know the local guys.   The CSA can be an ENORMOUS help in locating
good local experts.

I bought a project and have it almost finished.   I am the 3rd owner.    When I weighed
it near the end of construction, I found that my Longeze probably is the heaviest one
ever finished.   The excess weight will make it a "dog" as far as takeoff, cruise, and
landing goes.

The 2nd owner accused me of adding the excess weight.   Maybe he is right but I
have no way of knowing if it was already too heavy when the 1st owner sold it.

How do you know if all of the UNI and BID glass was laid up just as the manual says?
We have already lost one Longeze because the glass from the outer wall of the winglet
around under the bottom of the wing was not according to the plans.   That was a fatal
crash.   Burt investigated the remains and the proof is on record.

Bruce Hughes   

[Bill James]

Be cautious of un-used fiberglass cloth rolls that may have been contaminated without obvious indications. It must be kept dry. It has to do with the powder coating. Somewhere in the plans or CPs it is stated that the glass cloth loses the majority of its strength if contaminated with water. If anyone has seen this info lately please post the location and help with the exact wording. Thanks.
Good luck with the build!

[H.T.M.]

Thank you guys for the info. Lubbock Tx. is where I'm located ...
So the fiberglass rolls may not be good what about the foam; does it have a shelf life?

[go ez]

Ref foam life - depends if it has been kept in the dry & dark - UV light damages it. You can usually easily tell if it is crumbly , discoloured on the surface compared to the core colour etc. All things being equal ref storage, light shielding etc., PVC is most robust, then styrofoam, and lastly urethane being the least age resistant.

Ref glass contamination

See CP 35 page 7 ie

Quote :

'Caution:  Small strips of the cutting surface may contaminate your
cloth, so inspect carefully and change your cutting surface often. 
Glass cloth must be kept absolutely clean.  If it is ever exposed to
water it must be discarded.'

End quote

As Bill highlights, I understand the individial glass strands  have an invisible coating on them, both to protect them from airborne contaminants from etching the fibres and to aid wetting out the cloth with resin. Water contamination washes this coating away & leaves the individual glass strands exposed to weakening through air etching & creation of stress raisers.

I have some previously water contaminated glass cloth that I use soley for non structural fairings, auto parts  or moulds and you can tear it with your bare hands!!!

And get access to the CP notes - totally & utterly as essential as the plans.

Ideally hard copies or at least

http://www.cozybuilders.org/Canard_Pusher/CPs_1_to_82_Sections.txt


Regards
Steve

[A. Bruce Hughes]

You should confirm what I am going to say with an expert but ....

I have been told that liquid epoxy does NOT have an expiration time.   
The liquid HARDENER does expire.

Having said that, I also have some old epoxy that I was afraid to use.
I am going to use it to build a cover for the hot tub or something.

The "Cozy Girls" can supply most or all of the materials that Brock once
supplied.   Try to google up "CG Products".   I think that will get them.

Bruce Hughes   

[Bill James]

About the serial number. Mine is #619, plans ordered the day the plans became available. As i remember it, RAF supported only the person that bought the plans. If a different person bought the plans, the original buyer was responsible for supporting them. The serial number had to match the original name. I got a letter from Mike Mellville around 1992 stating that they were no longer supporting builders that weren’t past a certain stage, which included me. Nor does it include you. I think they were right to cut off support after going the extra mile.
No problem thought. I never had a need to call RAF anyway. That's because when i started building i joined Central States and within a couple of weekends about a dozen CSA members had come by for a visit. Lots of fun to make new and interesting friends, but i soon realized that i was now part of this self-policing network. Over the years most folks that came by were just enthusiasts and we talked about the latest crazes. But some were obviously checking up on my incorporation of plans changes, proper building techniques and materials. It's a good way to be in the loop on concerns and cautions from lessons learned. 
Now, besides that kind of personal interaction, we do a lot of good work on communication here.
The only bad thing is that if you don't have an original serial number it costs you five knots