Trailer Update

With winter closing in, I was able to finish the trailer enough to load the glider and take it to Roberts shop at the airport.  I encountered some fit issues, but the glider traveled well.

I will continue to update the trailer saga this spring, when things warm up.

It is now time to see when Robert and his right hand man, Joseph,can start work.

The Trailer! Part 8 - Struts and stuff!

I know I'm missing a few post that I wanted to get in before releasing this update, but after two and half years on this project, I have reached a milestone, the plane can now go to the shop at the airport to be finished.

Over the past couple of weeks, I was able to get the top of the trailer finished enough for us to get the top weighed.



Last month, the SSA issue of Soaring had a post about the need to replace some Cobra trailer struts. They mentioned a company in Surrey, BC Canada, called Strut Wise. The owner Frank Irvine was very helpful, and they were able to provide working struts for my beast trailer top.

The top is over weight due to the steel frame, but I was assured that the struts will handle to load. They require a little OMF to get them started, but they move with ease upward. Closing the top requires care to get the frame to line up on the top of the bottom rim.

But all in all, it works well.

I added the tail wheel cup and a tail strap from Cobra

Some how, my instruction where not followed to keep the height of the nose stop the same.

I believe the welder at the trailer shop shortened the frame. 

Until it was put in the trailer did I find the mistake, and now it's too late.

I have over payed for all the welding work that was done on it already for me to take this back and have them redo their work, and get double charged.

The glider required a little jocking around inside to get things to fit, which was a challenge without the help of the dolly tracks. I will need to make some adjustments in the spring, when I finish the trailer top, but for now, let's just get the glider finished!

Oh my god!, I have a garage again!

I will continue to play "catch up" on the post and to fill in some gaps

The project is getting that much closer to being finished. As they say.. I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel" ... Oh God, I hope it's not a train!

The Trailer! Part 7 - The trailer front half!

This past week, I took off work to finish the front half of the trailer top.

The top was was glassed in with the same number of layers as the back half, with the exception on an additional layer of 18oz. roving.

The extra layer will stiffen the the roof, and prevent sagging.

The mold was removed, to my surprise, came off quite easily.

With the help from my wife, we rolled the top over. 

The next step was to create the access hatch cover. I needed to make this before moving the top outside.

To protect the front of the trailer top, and to prevent the hatch cover bonding to the top glass, the hatch mold was made of .25 inch plywood, cut to shape and treated. I then screwed it onto the trailer top front. a layer of aluminum tape was applied, and then I used mold release wax to treat the surface. 

The hatch cover was made with several layers glass, like the rest of the trailer top, with the exception of the additional two layers of carbon fiber to keep it extra stiff.

The hatch cover popped off the mold, and the extra material was trimmed..

I left a lip on the edge so I can make the inside lip for the hatch to fit over when its mounted to the trailer. That topic will be addressed later. 

With the hatch cover made, It was tip to mate the two trailer top halves together. I used my truck, and the lift gate to move the top to the waiting trailer.

And again, with the help from my wife, we slide the top onto to the front of the trailer.

It took me most of the following day to get the front aligned with the back half.  I then cut out a rough opening so I can access the inside of the trailer to apply the bonding fiberglass to the seam split.

I followed Uraula Hanles instruction on how to bond a broken fuselage guide me thru this stem. I added additional ribbing to reinforce the inside.

While the first layers of the seam were curing, I cut out the openings for the rear tail lights and mounted the lights in place. I added the the license plate holder and light.  These will come off when I'm ready to paint the top, but for now, I just need them to be working so I can get the essential internal parts mounted, and the glider delivered to the airport for completion!

I placed the unfinished hatch cover over the opening.

For almost two years, this trailer for the first time, does not need a tarp to protect it! YAHOO! 

 I will do cleanup and add a layer of paint to protect the glass, but the final external finishing will be done later, after the glider is in the hands of the shop!

The Trailer! Part 6 - Déjà vu!?

Finally the temperature is getting down enough where I can start working with fiberglass again!.

I pulled out the wood and start reviewing my drawings.

The new trailer steel hoops in the forward area on the trailer are a little off from my original design. So, I will stick to the original design and cut the hoops off to be re-welded after the front on the trailer is mounted and secured.

The design for the mold required more facets than I wanted to deal with, but that is burden I chose when I accepted this project.

I reused much of the wood from the back portion of the trailer mold to create the mold for the forward trailer mold.

I created panel frames to create the forward curve.

This is where my wife walked in and saw this!

Her comment was, "Are you preparing to storm the beach in Normandy!?"

Aluminum foil tape was used to seal the edges and seams.

The last step was to add the facet edge with cut paneling strips.

I used a hot glue gun to tack the strips in place,

.... and then masking tape to seal the seams.

The wood was sanded and sealed.


Tomorrow.... the whole interior gets a good waxing.











Next week I start the process of applying the fiberglass... Oh Joy..

The new O2 System and Radio Mic install

Over the summer, when it was still too warm to work on the trailer top, I managed to finish the plumbing for the oxygen system.

I purchased a Mountain High System last spring and after careful studying on other gliders O2 systems, I planned out one that I believe will work just fine in the Libelle.

I found that the first stage needed to face down with my planned arrangement.

I mounted the refill port and tank gauge where it was accessible though the hat-self cover.

I originally bought the standard 3' high pressure hose, but I found that it was too short for where I needed to read the gauge in the cockpit. So I had to reorder a 5' hose. There were already small holes drilled in the ribs, I reused them to strap the hose in place, and ran it thought the glass straps in the side and under the seat pan tray lip.

Don't worry about that dangling chain on the refill port cover. I will get a better one that will secure the cap.

I drilled a opening in the lip and mounted the cockpit gauge. I also cut a notch in the seat pan lip to slide under the gauge.

While I was working on that side, I attached the boom microphone mount and ran the cable down the side. The cockpit padding will cover the cable when the plane is finished.

The next step was how to run the low pressure hose and still keep it away from anything that will hang up the controls or pinch the hose.

I ran the hose along the rear wing pin suspension tube and carefully strapped it down with plastic ties. There were holes in the ribs were I ran the tube in, through and around to avoid the aileron yoke and elevator rod.

The hose the was run through the glass straps into and under the right side seat pan tray lip.

Mountain High had a panel mount hose port that fit perfectly in the tray lip. I cut an opening in the seat pan for the port access. I will use the plastic hose to attach the demand regulator, and fit it into the side padding pocket.

It's now the end of September, the temperature is falling. It's time to finish the damn trailer!

UPDATE

Here is a revision to the low pressure hose install. A blog reader, Mark , suggested an excellent idea to prevent the hose from getting pinched by the plastic tires. He suggested that I shield the hose with a ridged plastic tube. I found that the tube I'm using for the steel wire shield had in ID the was just a shade wider than the OD of the low pressure hose. It was a perfect fit. And was rigid enough to prevent the plastic ties from biting into the low pressure line.


Again, Thank you Mark!

The Dog Days of Summer

Well, I have not been doing much work on this project since the first weeks of June. Summer came in Hot and heavy. It has been too warm to work with the fiberglass resin, so finishing the front of the trailer has been put on hold until it cools down.

I have been busy with school, and since I have finished this semester, I will finish wiring the fuselage and plumb the O2 system.

I have even taken some time off to do something unusual ... like ... fly!

More to come in the next couple of weeks!

The Trailer! Part 5a - UPDATE!

I know there is more to this post trail, but I had to at least show you all what I did last weekend. 

I managed to slide the back half onto the trailer frame, by myself.

I had to make some slight augmentations to the rear hoops and to the fiberglass tube supports, to get the top to sit correctly. One of the hoops will need to be rewelded after I get the top together.

I still need to do some cleanup on the frame top and the shell, so the back fits square. Once this is done. I will attempt to screw the shell to the top frame.