Hangar Flying => Hangar Flying => Topic started by: Skywalker Aviation on July 25, 2008, 06:47:05 PM
Title: Project "Finished" Varieze
Post by: Skywalker Aviation on July 25, 2008, 06:47:05 PM
Ok, here we go. This is a finished project aircraft. Which means the more I get into it the more I find needs fixed. Sound familar? Yes I have read the plans and the CPs. Really things change and I'd like to hear from the community on these particular issues.
1) At some point someone patched another layer of BID on the bottom of the airframe... OVER paint. I am not sure if someone was hiding something or what. I have started pulling... yes with my hands and a putty knife, the bid off. I figure I should sand the bottom, check for 2 BID layers and go from there. Any thoughts?
2) I can judge were someone else after the builder came along b/c it has had another paint job, directly over the old one. The person used primer in spots... but didn't sand the original coat of white. Wow. Once again I wonder what they were hiding. Would it be prudent to just remove all paint and start from there?
3) Seems to have some urethane deteration in the nose... heard that was common. Was told to fix it using epoxy or slurry injected in, then weighted. Only problem, now I have a depression there. Looks like someone shot some golf balls at it. Would the standard procedure be to sand off the paint and dry micro the depression.
4) At one point someone landed gear up, doh! Which is what I believe to led to two foam blocks separating underneth the nose. Can and should that be fixed by injecting slurry into the gap and compressing the blocks?
5) Fuel system a mess the valve leaks... hey I had 2 gals of gas in there! It is the old style valve. It connects to the carb, minus accelerator pump. Instead it Ts and goes to a hand primer pump, goes to copper tubing and then Ts again to go to either side of the engine. Which version is the safest/most reliable out there. Yes, b/c fuel system failure is bad news.
Ok, I'm sure I'll have more later. Hopefully we can get so life back in this place, there's not been much going on this month. Have fun at Oshkosh... wish I was going!
- Skywalker Aviation
P.S. if pics help I can do.
Title: Re: Project "Finished" Varieze
Post by: Bruce Hughes on July 29, 2008, 07:53:14 AM
Hii "newbie"
You need an expert to look at the problem areas to answer those questions. Are you in the CSA? Terry sends out a January directory with your newsletters. Just look in it to see who lives close to you.
Also 30 states have representatives. Those cover about 95% of the US population so you should have one. They will be a lot of help.
Of course many are gone to OSH.
Tell us your real name and where you live. Then I can tell you who is close by.
Bruce Hughes :)
Title: Re: Project "Finished" Varieze
Post by: D on July 30, 2008, 02:48:23 PM
1) At some point someone patched another layer of BID on the bottom of the airframe... OVER paint. I am not sure if someone was hiding something or what. I have started pulling... yes with my hands and a putty knife, the bid off. I figure I should sand the bottom, check for 2 BID layers and go from there. Any thoughts?
Pull, scrape, and sand it all off. I'd be tempted to sand down to bare glass and then add 2 layers of BID.
2) I can judge were someone else after the builder came along b/c it has had another paint job, directly over the old one. The person used primer in spots... but didn't sand the original coat of white. Wow. Once again I wonder what they were hiding. Would it be prudent to just remove all paint and start from there?
Was there damage disclosed when you bought the thing? Have you tap tested the structure to check for delams?
Consider stripping it down to bare glass...
www.canardzone.com/members/nickugolini/
Look at Nick's 'Soda Blasting Paint' link in the list on the left...
3) Seems to have some urethane deteration in the nose... heard that was common. Was told to fix it using epoxy or slurry injected in, then weighted. Only problem, now I have a depression there. Looks like someone shot some golf balls at it. Would the standard procedure be to sand off the paint and dry micro the depression.
4) At one point someone landed gear up, doh! Which is what I believe to led to two foam blocks separating underneth the nose. Can and should that be fixed by injecting slurry into the gap and compressing the blocks?
Well, a gear up would explain the repairs/repaint seen in #1, #2, and #3. Sounds like a shoddy repair job, though. If you're certain the damage is limited to the nose, cut it off. I wouldn't be too certain of that, though.
Perhaps you should find a wood chipper and throw the old fuselage into it. Build yourself a NEW fuselage tub.
5) Fuel system a mess the valve leaks... hey I had 2 gals of gas in there! It is the old style valve. It connects to the carb, minus accelerator pump. Instead it Ts and goes to a hand primer pump, goes to copper tubing and then Ts again to go to either side of the engine. Which version is the safest/most reliable out there. Yes, b/c fuel system failure is bad news.
I would rip it out and replumb it per the plans/CP's. Did I mention building a NEW fuselage tub?? ;)
BTW, how are the wing attach fittings on this Varieze??
I second Bruce's suggestion to get a knowledgeable pair of eyes on the problem. Your project might be in better shape than it sounds... but it could also be a WHOLE lot worse.
Best of luck,
D
Title: Re: Project "Finished" Varieze
Post by: Skywalker Aviation on August 11, 2008, 09:56:52 PM
Since I'll will be removing glass on the bottom of the fuselage what procedure should I use? By that I mean what is the best way to flip it over to work on in... keep in mind I have no foam just lying around. I was thinking that I could just drain the oil and use an engine hoist to lift it and flip it over. Then place a sawhorse under the nose & engine(for added stability).
Bruce,
Thanks for the reply, while I hate to admit it, no I'm not a member of CSA. Joining will be Tuesday's #1 priority. In the mean time the project is located in Farmington, Mo. Thanks for the help Bruce.
D,
Thanks for the link to the soda blasting. I did do a quarter test and there wasn't any delams. The damage is localized forward of the cockpit instrument panel. I'll wait till I blast it off so I can get a look at all of it, and assess the damage. Sorry I didn't make myself clear about the fuel. The firewall aft portion of the fuel system is what I'm concerned about. I'm sure I have the first or second version of the fuel system currently installed. To my understanding Ver. 3.0 was where they removed the inline fuel filter, added the gascolater, and placed the valve on the bow side of the firewall. I have the old Imperial valve and so I WILL be replacing it. The main question is what do I do about priming since my carb doesn't have an accelerator pump? Is the priming system I discribed(Ref. #5) safe? Hope to hear from you again.
Thanks guys,
Derek Roper ???
Title: Re: Project "Finished" Varieze
Post by: Bruce Hughes on August 11, 2008, 10:17:42 PM
Hi Derek
Contact Joe Rosa at 314-878-5853. He is the MO state rep for CSA.
I always took the engine off before turning the fuselage over.