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Marty de la Motte
- Hobart, Tasmania
- Australia
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Marty de la Motte posted a blog postWing spars
Commenced solid riveting on wing spars. Almost completed one spar - found it difficult to set the rivets along the top of the spar doubler because of the bend at the top, so have ordered a 5.5" head which should be long enough to prevent the spring on the air gun from hitting the bent section when setting.Happy with most of the rivets - had a couple that I had to drill out and re-set because of damage to the head caused by the gun slipping, but 99% worked fine.Also cut the front upper strut…See More
Marty de la Motte posted a status"Finished all 12 rear ribs. Holed & flanged spars. Started looking at solid rivets and realised I don't have the right sizes..."
Marty de la Motte posted a status"Finished all lightening holes in wing ribs. Formed & flanged 3 rear ribs. Far easier than rudder / stab ribs!!"
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postStarted wings
With the tail feathers completed it's time to crack on with the next item (in order of increasing difficulty) - the wings.Started by cutting out the rear rib blanks. I tried the router method described in the Homebuilt Help dvd - unfortunately only got half way around when the bit stopped cutting and jammed. Not a total loss though, the plywood templates are still useful - now I drill and screw the template through the aluminium onto the workbench, and cut around it with an Olfa knife. This…See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postMore elevators...
Last night I trimmed skins to size, deburred, cut out slot in trim tab spar for control rod and filed all the edges.I'd seen other people use a Dremel tool to do the control slot - I don't have one (used to, think I lent it to someone!!) - but found that a step drill, used carefully and with wood clamped behind the aluminium, worked fine. Even on the 0.016 skin.I also made a doubler (just 0.016) for where the trim servo is riveted to the top skin. Still need some minor trimming of rear skins…See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postElevator skins
Had a good weekend - on Sunday I cut out & bent the rear skins (made them a bit oversize in span so I can cut the ends to fit), drilled and clecoed them to the skeleton on Tuesday evening.Yesterday I had a couple of free hours, cut out the front skins and got one taped on.I love front skins. A simple rectangular piece of metal, give it a bit of a bend, and all of a sudden you've got a complete airfoil shape. Fantastic!See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postElevator skeleton riveted
After pulling my air riveter to bits and removing the 6 jammed rivet pins stuck in it, I riveted most of the skeleton together. Didn't rivet the hinge pins, thought it might be easier to remove them to drill the holes for the split pins...On to the rear skins next - can't wait.See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postElevator assembly
Finally got a chance to see my local sheet metal bloke, so got him to bend some pieces - the elevator spar, trim tab spar, and the trim tab itself. He did a superb job on the trim tab - bent it up from one piece of 0.016" with 3 bends. Note that the trim tab assembly on this 701 is based on the 750 style - full port elevator span, inset into the trailing edge. (I believe the 701 tab is a flat plate hinged to the existing soft-riveted TE - correct me if I'm wrong!) Anyway, as I've said on…See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postElevator parts
Just spent a pleasant couple of hours down in the shed, making the elevator rear ribs (including a modified one for the side with the trim tab), and elevator rear channel.Very glad I've got a wood heater in the shed - when I came back to the house I noticed the cars were iced over and the grass was considerably more crunchy than usual underfoot!Didn't take the camera with me but will take some pics soon. I'll take the elevator spar to a sheet metal worker up the road to have the flanges bent,…See More
Marty de la Motte posted a blog postInspired!
Currently on holiday in Bendigo (Vic, Australia) so dropped in to Bendigo Airport where Allan Barton has his beautiful 750 and 601. Allan very kindly took me up for a flight in his 750, which has inspired me to redouble my efforts on my scratch-built 701.The plane flew beautifully, especially impressed with the digital instrumentation and "professional" extras such as carby heat, boost etc.The aircraft is surprisingly roomy with the bubble doors, which I'll be getting too. I also like the way…See More
Profile Information
- Aircraft Model
- STOL CH 701
- Project Status
- Just started
- Building From
- Plans-only
- Building Experience
- No Experience
- Flying Experience
- Private Pilot
Marty de la Motte's Photos
Marty de la Motte's Blog
Finally... spars completed!
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:17am 2 Comments 0 Likes
PLEASE tell me the spars are the hardest (physical) component of this plane to create. After 286 solid AN5-6 rivets my left shoulder, neck and lower back are aching. I know there's a few more to go... some longer ones on the spar root fittings, a few in the cockpit, not to mention those pesky little 3-3 suckers on the trailing edge... but I'm over it. After this plane I never want to see a solid rivet again, let alone set one. I'd have a ceremonial "chucking the bucking bar" in the dam,…
Continue Wing parts fabrication
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 4:53pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Cut out the 8 flaperon brackets and 8 slat supports from 0.090". I don't have a bandsaw, but it's amazing what you can do with a table mounted circular saw, a belt sander and some patience...
Tried the new 5.5" solid rivet driver on the remaining spar rivets on the starboard spar. Found it tends to kick around more than the short heads, so even more care has to be taken.
Wing spars
Posted on November 13, 2011 at 5:06pm 4 Comments 0 Likes
Commenced solid riveting on wing spars. Almost completed one spar - found it difficult to set the rivets along the top of the spar doubler because of the bend at the top, so have ordered a 5.5" head which should be long enough to prevent the spring on the air gun from hitting the bent section when setting.
Happy with most of the rivets - had a couple that I had to drill out and re-set because of damage to the head caused by the gun slipping, but 99% worked fine.
Also cut the…
Continue Working on spars
Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:00am 1 Comment 0 Likes
Got the root doublers, strut attachment doublers and tip spars bent up the other day. Due to the happy combination of a Saturday morning to myself and the kids both sleeping for 3 hours in the afternoon, I pilot-drilled the doublers & L stiffeners to the spars and cut the extrusion to shape for the front strut attachments.
After some solid riveting practice, I'm now ready to attempt riveting the spars together... nervously... (jeez I'd hate to bugger it up on the last rivet!!)
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Comment Wall (5 comments)
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Long straight cuts are easily done with a scoring blade (e.g., olfa p-cutter 800).
Using a straight edge, you score the material a number of times (10 to 20, depending on the thickness) and then brake it.
Regarding the skins, many people scratch building the older Zodiac used 0.020" or 0.025".
I believe the CH650 kit already comes with thicker skins.
The advantage is that it is less prone to get dented (during and after construction), and reduced "oil canning".
Of course, the down side is added weight.
You might want to take a look at ch601.org, click on builder resources.
It's a Zodie site, but the most techniques apply to the 701.
Have fun!
Welcome to the group
I look forward to see your progress over your build time
Cheers
Allan
I am building a 601XL so probably would not be much help to you if you needed it, however Peter Ratcliffe in Brisbane has built a 701 and may be a good contact for you. http://www.zenith.aero/profile/PeterRatcliffe?xg_source=profiles_memberList
or Gordon Watkin in Albury NSW
http://www.zenith.aero/profile/GordonWatkin
Good luck with your build and I look forward to seeing your progress pics.
Regards
Phill Barnes http://www.mykitlog.com/ch601xl