Donk

[Bruce]

As it is mid - semester break at Uni where I work, I have escaped on annual leave for a week. As normal for most of my breaks forthe last 7 years or so, it back to work on the Adventurer. This weeks project is to take a big chunk out of the engine installation work.

Firstly I had to complete the nose cowlings I have been working on for the last month or so - this was so that I could finally clean up the huge mess that fibreglassing makes (its my first time at it - and hopefully the last - I hate the stuff!) the mouldings are finished in spray filler and just need fastenings etc. Note the landing light fitting in the lower opening (Radiator intake)



After a workshop tidy up (partial anyway...) I fitted the engine mount frame. It is painted gloss white as per current "Best Practice" (it aparently makes it easier to inspect for cracks and damage). Those who visited the aircraft earlier in the year may notice a few changes to the fuel plumbing on the firewall, also the battery has been relocated forward from behind the baggage bay (the prelim weigh suggested it was a little tail heavy).


Fitting the lower bolts through the firewall was a pig of a job as there were brake lines and the flap cables getting in the way, and space was pretty restricted anyway (you can see the holes, or reach them, but not both!) this will be improved on the next one I build! I had to get a mate to help as it was one of those "both sides of the firewall" jobs.



Finally, it was time to mount the engine - which was actually very straight forward compared to the contortions required earlier. Set up the lord mounts, sling the engine on the crane and everything lines up!
Donk is now in!
(in case you missed earlier threads, this is a reworked Subaru EJ20 - should be about 140hp on Avgas)





If you look closely - you will see everthing has a fine layer of dust on it - from sanding that damn Fibreglass!(it gets everywhere - despite covers) The silver object in bubble wrap sitting on the floor below the engine is one of the two mufflers ("Boy Racer" parts) that will need fitting shortly.



Next job for the week is to terminate all those wires (and I DO know where they all go!)

[Dave Homewood]

Well done Bruce, another milestone!

[stu]

Looking good Bruce, eagerly awaiting a report on the first flight test

[philip]

Looks great, getting close now. Where will it be assembled? testflown, based?

[corsair67]

Bruce, it's all coming together quite nicely now.

[bobgod]

Bruce--its looking good! Often,over the last 55 years!--I have muttered the words " Nothin's easy---if it was, the bosses would be doing it and we wouldnt have a job!" I have no idea of the origins, but it sure is true. Another favourite[not to steal the thread,tho]
We dont know what we want, but you make it and we'll show you where its wrong!

When I did the Pitts[ECO] I reckon there were more manhours ahead of the firewall ,than the whole of the rest of the aircraft.

[flyjoe180]

The AVian is looking good Bruce

[Radialicious]

Nice work Bruce. That engine mount is very nice to look at. She's gonna be a lot of fun! Keep up the good work!!

[Bruce]

Just another little update:
Most of the wiring and plumbing is complete, although I discovered a fault in the alternator (an internal short to ground), so I have removed this and sent it to a tame "Auto - Sparky" for repair. I'm also waiting on one oil line to the remote oil filter to come back from the hose specialists too - it needed an odd fitting which missed the courier.
The exhaust system is still to come.



I have fitted the propeller (not without some issues there...) and I have test fitted the front cowl . There is some "Imagineering" under way here, using straight edges where the cowl panel lines go to visualise what will be required when building the main cowlings. It is a useful check to ensure everything will fit inside the cowl lines, but from a visual progress point of view it is the first time the final shape of the Adventurer becomes aparent. Definitely has an Auster look to it!



The side view shows the space behind the radiator where the crossover exhaust will go. each bank will have a separate manifold which will cross over below the sump and exhaust through the muffler on the opposite side (Imagineered in postion here) this will allow a reasonable length of pipe which should hopefully reduce the noise but still have a decent exhaust tone.



Not in the same league as a Bristol Hercules, but still plenty of challenge!

[stu]

Great work Bruce, really coming together well.

You'll have to change your profile picture soon.

Cheers
Stu.

[Bruce]

Good point - Avatar now updated

[shane]

The AVian is looking fantastic you have really out done yourself.
Any chance u might make the mandeville flyin next year with her ? It would be great to watch her in the air.

[Bruce]

I do hope to have the aircraft in the South Island in February if the test flying is sorted by then. I will need to attend the SAA "Great Plains" fly in at Ashburton over Waitangi Weekend, but I dont think I will have enough annual leave left to get to Mandeville a few weeks later
Once I have built up the Leave again I do plan to do a South Island Tour, which will certainly include Mandeville.

[shane]

That would be great, I'll look forward to that

[Bruce]

latest update - the engine cowling have been completed and now await painting. the list of things to build is getting very short now (Only really the exhaust system to go...)

The Aeroplane has the distinct look of an Auster Mark V from some angles - Quite deep in the nose due to the radiator, but not unpleasant.


The top cowling is still attached with clecos as I am awaiting some Southco 1/4 turn fasteners. The cowling is in 5 sections like a Piper Super Cubs: Lower tub, Top Nose, Top main panel, and two side panels. the side panels open upwards without requiring tools to enable all the important bits to be checked during a preflight.


Before starting painting, its worth deciding where the colour demarkation will go as it goes around the nose - Blue masking tape helps visualise:


I'm still not saying when it will fly - I would have liked to have it at Ragaln in November but chances are less than 50-50 now. I still have some major manual writing to do! (still, thats what I used to do for a living, so it could be worse...)

[flyjoe180]

Beauty Bruce, coming along well. Maybe taking the stripes to the nose intakes might offset the bulged look from the radiator, rather than taking them over the end of the nose?

[Bruce]

I got the cowls painted white yesterday as there was some nice warm sunshine, I'll mark out the stripes and stuff later in the week. there will be some little tricks with the gold stripes on the side cowls and they dont reach all the way to the nose. This is mainly because on the RH side there is the oil cooler exit duct right where the stripes would go. I've been working out where the blue edge goes and its a little awkward, but I think it should look OK. I'm still trying to decide whether it needs a black anti-glare panel.....

[Radialicious]

"Quite deep in the nose due to the radiator, but not unpleasant."
When was the last time you heard someone complain about the look of a Hawker Typhoon? She looks great Bruce. Keep it up! I'll look forward to seeing her at Ash-bogan for the rally. I'm keen to finally take the Andrews Special down there. At 52 years old, I'm guaranteed the oldest homebuilt trophy - unless the Lincoln Sport is airworthy by then......

[Peter Lewis]

Good progress there Bruce, looking forward to seeing her in the air.

[stu]

Any updates ?