Allan 601XL Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hi Phil If you would like to travel to Bendigo I have one there currently fitting the rotax engine Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 Managed to finish both flaps. Continued on with the Ailerons. setting them up with the 13mm wist in the outward end. [ATTACH]5509.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5507.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5508.vB[/ATTACH] Having to keep moving the spacer every time you have to turn the aileron over to cleco some thing. I have only riveted one up because i will be installing trim in the pilots side. I have oped to scratch build the trim because we had already purchased a ray Allan trim motor when we were going to build a 701. Over at the other work shop we have now connected the floor pan to the rear section of the fuselage. installed the fire wall and set it up to the 77deg using the templates that we made up. used the laser level again to get the whole thing setup to be perfectly level. [ATTACH]5505.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5506.vB[/ATTACH] We where having difficulty with the front and rear wing spar jig that was supplied with the kit. The section that matched the front wing spar was set out and drilled as per the plans but the holes did not line up the the centre section. a quick call to Zenith and i was told that we had the pre drilled kit and to throw the jig away. it can only go in one place because the skins are pre drilled, he said that the jigs caused more trouble than what is is worth. you just have to use the templates that you will make. (I will post some pictures of there use shortly). So far the kit has just fallen together with out any stress. a pleasure to build. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Happy to report the safe arrival of my 601xl kit today but the garage to build it in,is still a few weeks away from completion. Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Good to hear. I hope you have as much fun as we are having. Keep us informed of your progress. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 I have been busy with a lot of things and have not kept you updated. Sorry! I have been working hard on the wings and the brothers have been very hard at work on the fuselage. The rear wing spar was marked out and drilled. [ATTACH]5702.vB[/ATTACH] Wing tip [ATTACH]5704.vB[/ATTACH] Stiffeners to the ribs [ATTACH]5705.vB[/ATTACH] The wing taking shape. [ATTACH]5703.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5706.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5707.vB[/ATTACH] The landing gear has also been completed. Getting it on to the drill press so as to drill the holes perfectly straight took a bit of doing. We also uses a hole saw in the drill press to cut the clearance shapes for the brake callipers. [ATTACH]5708.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5709.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5710.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5711.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5712.vB[/ATTACH] I will post the pictures of the fuselage as soon as i reduce there size (The brother uses a 10 meg camera) By for now. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Howdy Ian, I was wondering where you got to? Nice to see the project coming along. I'm still finishing my garage [hangar] but hope to start building in a few weeks time. Looking forward for the next installment of pics.:thumb_up: Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest terry Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Hi ianrat, could you give me the number for c & h transport I can't find them on the net Thanks Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Hi Terry Its 03 9330 0800 Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest terry Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Thanks T87 thats a big help, as well as rebuilding my thruster which is already under way I've brought a zenith 801 second hand kit from america. someone brought it and hasn't found the time to start. My good luck because it's what I intended to do one day anyway and the reduced price makes it worth moving on it now. The intention is to repair the thruster ,fly it until I need the engine for the zenith and then sell it. Thats my plan any way. Regards Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hi all I have been following the thread as I have also ordered a 601 XL, and arrival date is June 22. Have been interested in your progress Ian. Moving along quickly. How much time are you spending weekly building the plane? Looking forward to starting mine Cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 I have been a bit slack lately. I spend about 2-3 hours per week on the wings and tail. The brothers who are building the fuselage spend about an hour every day after work. I will post the rest of the fuselage photos tonight. The kit is very easy to build and i believe that the new kits have even more pre drilled and formed parts than yours that arrived in march.:thumb_up: Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I originally ordered in Jan 10th 08 but there were holdups and it ships from USA on June 1. So i believe it is the latest version of the kit. Looking forward to it. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted May 30, 2008 Author Share Posted May 30, 2008 The fuselage is coming along very well. It is now sitting on the wheels and we have the engine mount for the Corvair Engine in place. [ATTACH]5791.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5792.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5797.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5794.vB[/ATTACH] The seats section is complete, we have to get the stick painted or powder coated. [ATTACH]5795.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5796.vB[/ATTACH] The dual coil switch is in place behind the dash. [ATTACH]5793.vB[/ATTACH] Since these photo were taken we have completed the rear section of the turtle back and have installed the canopy arms and the sheeting over the instrument panel. Not bad going considering that we only received the kit on the 7th March this year. We are also helping one of the other builders to complete his kit at the same time. He has the fuselage up to the stage of putting on the cabin side and has completed the flaps, Rudder and ailerons. The only problem that i have is that we have to share the Clecos. I have not got enough to work on the wing while the brothers are working on the fuselage. I have tried to get some more. I will just keep building, hoping to be flying by Xmas. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted May 31, 2008 Author Share Posted May 31, 2008 Have been working hard on the turtle back. [ATTACH]5798.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5799.vB[/ATTACH] We have only cut the front of the baggage area roughly to shape to allow the fitting of the front bow. [ATTACH]5801.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5802.vB[/ATTACH] The sheeting over the instrument panel is now in place. We will be fixing down with bolts instead of rivets. this will allow us to remove it to do any work behind the panel. [ATTACH]5800.vB[/ATTACH] Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Been working on the wing again. Have both rear skins in place and have started on the nose skin. With the pre cut and drilled skins this is an absolute dream. I have had to wait until i won some more clecos on Eba (sorry if you were bidding against me but i needed them ) to complete the wing any further. [ATTACH]5873.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5874.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5875.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5876.vB[/ATTACH] We have also spending a lot of time helping the third builder in our group. We are about to install the under carriage. We fitted the brakes to it last night. ( so no photos but it was done the same way that is already shown here). Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Looking GOOD, Ian [i finally got to start mine as well] Do I see a PENCIL on the wing ? Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted June 11, 2008 Author Share Posted June 11, 2008 Thruster 87 Yes it is! But it has not been used on the plain (Only on timber) only use the recommended sharpies. I was cutting out some templates to form up the extra little nose rib for the landing light option. I did not buy the landing lights kit i will form it up my self. Good to hear that you have made a start on yours. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPW Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Hi Ian Where are you guys getting your corvair engines from? Are you going to rebuild them yourselves? Cheers Damian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 We picked our motor up here in Australia from a builder that changed his mind part way through. We have to finish the installation our selves. We are going to Oshkosh on Wednesday and will be talking to William Wynne. He is one of the best source of information on the Corvair. He has produced two very good manuals. The first is the "Conversion Manual" and the second is just on fitting a corvair into a CH601XL.He has also produced a set of DVD,s on the conversion of the Corvair. If you do not want to build it your self there a number of people in the states that will do the main conversion for you. Below are a coulpe of the better sites for infomation on the Corvair. http://www.flycorvair.com/ http://mylist.net/archives/corvaircraft/2008/date.html http://forums.matronics.com/viewforum.php?f=71 Hope this is some help. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPW Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 Thanks for the info Ian. I have read everything on the flycorvair.com website and am seriously conidering a 601XL with a corvair engine and am wondering if I'm going to be able to sorce one in Australia. I'm happy to do the rebuild myself, but I think it may be cheaper just to get William to build one for me. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrat Posted July 20, 2008 Author Share Posted July 20, 2008 Very rare in Australia. But very easy to get in the US ($100 - $350) for a good core engine. then there is the parts to convert it and then the transport. i originally was working on about 14k for the whole fire wall forward package (including prop) getting the motor built by "California Corvairs and the rest of the parts from WW. Ianrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Ian are you modifying any of the metal to metal contact points like the rudder hinge attach bearings and the pedal end bearings? I've decided to put nylon bushes on the pedal bearings and bronze flange bushes for the rudder upper and lower bearings. Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPW Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Thruster87, just out of interest, what engine are you going to run in your 601? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster87 Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 Jab 3300 is my choice for the power plant with a sensenich prop.I've got everything bar the 3300 which I'll buy closer to the completion date.Cheers T87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 XL Kits /Building Hi All Chris Up in Sydney I am building an XL and my Jab USA 3300 FWF package is in the air as we write.. It was shipped yesterday. Up to fiting the canopy at the moment but waiting as there is a new canopy and locking system in the wind. I am also about to put out the next Zenith odiac Newsletter. Hi Ian, your build is progressing well Chris.:thumb_up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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