bobcharl

The above comments just about say it all, both good and bad. Lots of interesting stuff to see, interesting people to talk with, a variety of affordable (mostly) food made for a pleasant experience, spoilt by that STUPID B***DY FENCE, and an annoying PA system as others have commented. Flew in from southern NSW Sat morning arriving a little later than expected (my fault), got to Seminar Room 1 for the RAAus forum at 0930 to find it deserted. Assuming it started at the advertised 0900 it must have been awfully brief , or did it not happen? I also felt the day entrance fee for Sat a bit excessive for what was really only a half day. I don't include the air show because scores of people watched it from the carpark and roadway for nix. Many of them came to the entrance but when told the entry fee simply walked away. At the conclusion of the airshow many exhibitors had packed up their wares and the day was effectively over. My final gripe: I camped underwing Sat night only to be annoyed by loud music. Sounded to be coming from the exhibitors area so maybe a party or such which is OK, but not until 0100 the next morning when I resorted to a couple of earplugs. Not very considerate of some people IMHO. Having said all that, I will attend again next year because I am sure the organisers will have by then sorted most of the contentious issues. Bob

Have worn glasses for many years. First it was a pair of half frames when I only needed close-up support. Got them as Music reading glasses ( they focus a little further away than normal reading glasses) but map reading was an issue so reverted to normal half-frame reading glasses. Took some time to get used to but worked well. When my longer vision started to deteriorate I ended up getting bi-focals.Took quite a long time to adjust to them though. Not just flying, but everyday things like walking up steps or reaching for a beer (I would spill it!).However, I did adjust and now would not have anything else. Have evaluated multi focals but found they caused a tunnel vision effect which I did not want for flying. I use frames with light wire -like arms on them and do not find headset sealing a problem. My lenses have a coating on them which my optometrist tells me cuts out 90 % of UV light, however does very little for glare. I do not wear sunglasses. So my suggestion would be to try the bi-focals and tolerate them for some time. If you cannot get used to them you can always consider some other option then. Regards, Bob

Have some reservations about grease on the sliding pins. Might be ok if you only operate from Tarmac, but from dirt strips dust could be an issue. I wonder if graphite might be an alternative. Mark, I find your comments about poor brake performance interesting: the brakes on mine will hold the wheels (6.00/6) solid so they will skid along an earthen surface during a full power run up. Could the sliding pins in your brakes be seized (like those of mikeavison) and not applying pressure to both sides of the disc? Regards, Bob

mccrowley, Here are some pics. Hope they help. Don't know why I can't put them where I want them. Bob

Re the lexan and tinting. Had mine tinted with film by an automotive company. Still perfect 3 years later . Only problem was I found it still transmitted radiant heat on hot days so I opted for a roller blind as well as mentioned earlier by garymc. Bought it at Spotlight for very little. Cut it to shape and it works like a charm. Now have the best of both worlds and it works so well I would not be without them. If I had to choose one I think it would be the blind. Bob.

Hi MajorTom and welcome. Re your issue of sorting parts: When I received my VG XL kit I was faced with quite a time delay before I could access my hangar and start construction so I used some of that waiting time to construct a checklist. I did this on Excel by working through the assembly manual, page by page, and entering the part # and assembly to which it belonged(eg. rudder, fin etc.). Then ran an alpha/numeric sort and added columns for "checked","bin" , etc. Then when unpacking the box it was easy to check a part off and store in a bin ,recording all on the spreadsheet No searching for a particular part, just take them as they come and bin them accordingly. Took ages to do, but made the build process much less frustrating, not that there was much frustration involved once I mastered Italio/English. Since I am of an older age group and have a very low level of computer literacy, I am sure you could do something similar without difficulty. Or perhaps you might be in too much hurry to commence the build! Good luck. Bob

Hi Jabpilot, Whilst I do hold an ASIC, (unhappily), let me know when the first rally is on and I will make every effort to be there. Bob

Like Bernie,(#8), I don't post very often but am a regular reader. Love the site, keep up the good work. Bob

What am I not doing because I am not getting any sound?

Thanks all for the replies. Mark: Remember putting a hole in the rubber grommet during assembly. Downunder: Floods tell me that on each shutdown there is a minute discharge of oil through the vent . Don't know about this going into the airbox. Is that the way yours is? JerzyGeorge:Think this might be where I am heading! IBob: The pressure swing is in the order of 0.5 to 0.75 psi. I could only describe the pulsation as rapid, without putting a frequency on it. Thanks again, keep the suggestions coming. Bob

Hi All. On the last flight in my Sav (912 uls) I noticed a pulsation in the fuel pressure. Occurs when the motor is running, irrespective of whether the electric pump is on or off. Does not occur when motor is not running but electric pump is on. Which to me indicates the problem is somehow related to the mechanical pump. Have discussed the issue with Floods who could not come up with a reason other than that the vent tube may be blocked , so I disconnected tube at the pump and blew air through it. No blockage! Floods also mentioned that the location of the discharge end of the vent tube can also cause weird pressure readings, (I seem to remember the manual mentioning this) but were at a loss to explain how this could be relevant after 100 hrs of satisfactory operation. Any thoughts out there? Bob

Anyone know at what hours the known incidents have occurred at? Bob

Congrats Guy, even though I am a week late. Nothing can compare with that first flight in something you have built yourself. Enjoy. Bob

Bob, May be of interest to you and others. I have found an old tin of left-over 'black stuff 'with a quite legible label. You will still need an Italian translator though. It reads: ALBESIANO SISA (VERNICI) Via Rigolfo, 73-10028 Tr0farello (To) 5313/A Smalto All 'Acqua Semiopaco Nero Conservare a temperature 5deg C<25degC It also includes a batch no.& date and a shelf life (6 months) but sadly no email address. Regards, Bob

Hi Bob, I realise I am a week behind the discussion, but that is the story of my life. Re your difficulties with the 'black goop', I found that anywhere you require a clean finish, cleco the two parts together and run a strip of masking tape tightly along the exposed edge before dismantling and painting it on.(eg. external skins) The other side is usually inside the structure and is not visible. The inside (hidden) areas of my a/c is not pretty due to this. For what it is worth I painted both mating surfaces. I seem to remember putting this query to my supplier who advised this, but it is some time ago and I may be wrong. Why not ask your supplier- he is a mine of information. Happy building Bob

Hi Bob They were in my kit also. Wouldn't be the first time there was an omission in a kit just the same. I have a few left and if you cannot find a more readily available solution I can post you some. The way Australia Post is these times there could be some delay though. I do remember finishing these particular countersunk rivets with a file because they do need to be flush and they don't pull in exactly so. Don't know where you purchased your kit but the dealer here in Aus that I used provided a back up service second to none. Perhaps your dealer is able to do likewise for enquiries such as this. Regards, Bob

Hi Bob, With a name like that you just have to be a good bloke. Congrats on starting your build. I am sure you will love it. Your table size will be adequate (it is 800mm longer than mine and it was OK). I did find a couple of old kitchen tables handy for tools, paint etc. which otherwise always seem to find their way under the part you are building. Then you can keep larger pieces like wing skins and lexan in the supplied box out of harms way, and still have access to it. Your spreadsheet system of cataloguing parts sounds similar to mine and it works a treat. Takes a bit of storage space to keep the individual parts stored as a component group, but makes life much easier. I found acetone a great cleaner on alum, then some prepsol for good measure. Keep acetone away from plastics and some paints though. As has been said don't dwell on the painting too much at this stage, just enjoy the build. Regards, Bob

Hi Jerzy, I remember during construction of my VG-XL that it appeared that the slots to accept the locking bolt were not deep enough to be secure. Your photo seems similar. I recall around that time someone else had trouble with inadvertent disengagement of the flap mechanism, so I decided to file the slots deeper to ensure a more positive engagement. Cannot remember if I widened the slot , but I do remember stretching the spring slightly to hold the bolt a little firmer into the slot. So far so good but it is relatively early days yet- only 80 hrs. to date. Could possibly organize a photo if you feel you need it. Regards, Bob

Been following this thread with interest, because it seems that this cracking must be caused by the side extensions off the main stem which accept the steering rods hammering on the lower bracket during taxi-ing. My interest is because in my installation these side extensions actually clear the bracket by a small amount, perhaps .020 thou. This means that any hammering in my case is occurring on the thrust bearing at the top of the stem. Is this likely to cause problems in that region? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Bob

Thanks Mark. Bracket looks good. Methinks a retro fit might fill in a fair amount of spare time. Bob

Hi Dan, Sorry to be using Marks thread but didn't know how else to go about it. Can you tell me more about this beefed-up front gear support. Did all VG XL models have it or is it a retro-fit. Is it ICP or is it an after market creation. Any info appreciated. Bob

Hi Guy s, I'm a bit late in responding to your query re roof tinting ; sorry. My experience is same as some other posts, had mine tinted about 2 years ago against advice that it may bubble, and to this point still perfect. I felt at the time that more would be needed so I fitted a blind as in the pics. It is a common household roller blind ( called a "Holland Blind" in some stores) cut to size and shape and fitted as shown. The plastic insert across the front edge I replaced with folded aluminium to give it some rigidity. Can be opened and closed in flight and very effectively breaks the radiant heat. But then I'm not bald! Regards, Bob

No bending, no rod, just rivet it on as per the diagram on the page in your photo. The cover will then go on the outside of the fuselage with the riveted strip inside the fuse. Cleco it first and try it and you will work it out. Regards, Bob

Lyndon, Re your rudder cables and wearing blocks. Note that the rudder cables are left and right specific: they are NOT interchangeable. The difference is in the rear block on the cables where they exit the fuselage. The holes on these will not match if they are interchanged. Take care! Regards, Bob

I like the look of the engine pipe attachment Mark. Is silicon heat transfer compound sold under a trade brand or is it just heat resistant silicon sealant. Regards, Bob