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Thanks mate

That would be awesome. Definitely on our bucket list

That was the intention. In the off position they are sticking out clear as day

Thanks mate. It definitely took longer doing it that way, but really enjoyed it.

Soon, just have a few snags to sort out…and paperwork!

Thanks mate, go for it!

Thanks mate. I’ve been looking forward to when I can get you to do a photo shoot…coming soon!

@@donwtsn I look forward to it mate, see you soon.

Thanks mate. It will be very interesting to see how it goes. The Slepcev Storch and STOL King are both lighter, but perhaps I’ll get similar performance….grab the popcorn and watch this space!

I am very lucky to have been in the aviation business for a long time so scrounging for parts on a low budget has made it possible. I’ve also swapped my labour for certain things that were needed….like the engine, and a few other things. Without that ability, I wouldn’t be ready to fly now.

Thanks mate, I really appreciate that. Guess what…. I have 26” bush wheels to go on. I just need to muck about a little to make sure they don’t rub anything. Almost the next thing on my list!

Thanks mate, I really appreciate that. Nicole and I are really looking forward sharing to our adventures in the near future. Exploring the country around your area is definitely on our bucket list

Almost ready!

Heheh, where all of the cool decisions are made huh!

@@donwtsn well there are often differences of opinion on some projects details but eventually there is a majority vote and it works out OK.

Heheh, as long as you don’t lose the arguments with yourself everything is fine huh!

@@donwtsn true 👍

Thanks mate, it’s been a fun project with so much to learn along the way

Awesome mate! Go for it! It’s such a rewarding challenge. Keep me in the loop with what you come up with. I’ll be keen to follow along

Very different world military maintenance huh! I’m a mech/basher so they definitely don’t want me anywhere near the elec stuff! I was a basher on the pig doing R4,5&6 services. Great fun. I’ve spent a good chunk of my time on the Blackhawk as a mech/basher. Such a cool machine! They are my two favourites

Thanks mate. Empty weight is 527kg. MTOW of 900 or 950kg would be great. I know the structure can handle that, I just need to work my way up to that to see how it handles at that weight

Thank you @PerspectiveAustralia….you are a bit awesome yourself!

Not yet, still have a couple of bugs to sort….and paperwork!

@@donwtsn Roger that, I’m eager to see it!

@@agpilotphilif you are around Watts Bridge, especially on weekends, I’m usually there doing something on it

@@donwtsn I would love that, but unfortunately I’m in California.

@@agpilotphilhehe, not far then! Just a very long swim!

Thanks mate I appreciate that. A Starduster with a round engine would be awesome! I made a windscreen trim for both cockpits on Frankenstein. I can’t remember if I spoke about it in an earlier video(I think I talked about this in the engine cowling series for the air exit flange I made for the lower cowling). What I did was to use the flat wheel like I used for these flanges to get the material to form. I used a bigger skin with the basic cut out of the front section of the cockpit, then progressively formed the flange up in the skin where the windscreen would attach to. With a bigger skin you can control how the skin/flange forms better. For Frankenstein, and I’m guessing for the Starduster, the shape of the windshield piece follows the curve of the top of the fuselage as well as the shape of the cutout for the cockpit. That means the angle of the flange to attach the windshield to changes slightly from one side, to the middle, to the other side. Give the bigger sheet the shape of the top fuselage and slowly add the required stretch to the flange until you get the angle you want, then cut out the piece from the bigger skin to suit. If this doesn’t make sense, I do apologise. The work coffees were really strong today! Let me know and I’ll try and give you a better explanation

@@donwtsn Thanks so much for taking the time to point me in the right direction. I have been looking for some guidance on how to approach the project. You are correct in the assumption about the shape ("the shape of the windshield piece follows the curve of the top of the fuselage as well as the shape of the cutout for the cockpit"). We have the assembly for the rear cockpit but not the front. Your description makes perfect sense. I'm sure I'll destroy a bunch of aluminum before I'm done, but that's all part of the learning experience. BTW. The radial engine is a Continental 7 cylinder 220 HP 80 year old engine. It hadn't been started in over 20 years but came to life on the second revolution. If you're interested in taking a peek at the first engine start, here is a link: czcams.com/video/NSqambFC7Nw/video.html Thanks again!

@@stanhelmle5363very cool! There’s just something about radial engines huh! An extra measure of awesomeness. The airframe looks great. Have you started to cover it yet? Take your sweet time when using the English wheel, especially when getting close to the right shape. Don’t be tempted to hurry things up by doing a couple extra passes. A lot of the time, one extra pass than what you planned is enough to overshoot things. Usually that’s when you discover new expletives! Fun times!

@@donwtsn Oh, yes! Discovering new expletives! Been there and done that. LOL! Regarding the fabric, we have the fuselage and all control surfaces done. Getting ready to do the wings. Never thought that I'd have to learn to sew (rib stitching) at age 74! We went with Oratex fabric. All black with the trim being a metallic flake blue. The avionics (Garmin G3X) are here and ready to be installed! Again, I appreciate your taking the time to guide me in fabricating the front windshield. I'll let you know how it turned out (hopefully with few expletives).

@@stanhelmle5363oh boy that’s going to look awesome! Hehe, at least it’s cool sewing huh! Hope it all goes well for you mate.

Hehe, I reckon it’s perfect for the passenger seat huh!

Cool! Hopefully I have it ready for you

Thanks mate. Really looking forward to that too!

Thanks mate, I really appreciate that. Hopefully the flying adventures start soon!

That’s definitely a consideration I’m seriously thinking about. I also know I’ll be flying around with a basic tool kit so it’d be weight that’s useful. Still thinking about which way I want to go

I don’t think the tundras will affect the CofG much at all. Although I will be checking the weights between the two when I swap them out. It will increase the angle of attack on the ground/3 point attitude which I’ll need to be careful about. Yes, ailerons can be sensitive to things like that huh. I remember doing flights after rebuilding aircraft to get them to fly right, the smallest of adjustments is all they needed and the affect was significant. Fun times

Cheers mate. I reckon there’s a few out there that can give it a run for the ugly title

Just tighten the neck bolt up a bit more huh

You might want to put some interior padding and something to cover the sharp edges of the channel section . I spent twenty plus years fighting ,now, CASA to get an experimental category (and the SAAA who were responsible for ANO 101.28 that imposed full FAR 23 certification on only local amateur build designs ( of which my Opal from 1976 was the only such aircraft not of "overseas design" and so exempted from anything (I worked in the US in the experimental category on the prototype HP18 sailplane and was probably the only Australian to have done so, I thus have a great interest in the safety of anything built and to preserve the hard won freedoms allowing EXP now.

We can be friends then!

I’ll look in to that

Thanks mate. The challenge with a mechanical one is the size of the gauge won’t fit in the panel

I was delighted and a little surprised when I read the rules about rego size and placement.

Awesome huh!

@@donwtsn I'd tune in. For the airplane articles, of course! 👀

Worth the pain…I think!

The adventure seat!

Thanks mate. Another step closer

Hehe, cheers mate

Thanks mate. I still have a few years to catch up to you

Thanks mate

Thanks mate. Yep, mustn’t rush the last few steps, they are as important as the others. It was almost comical when I worked out what I did with the ailerons. But easily sorted. Fun times!

@@donwtsn We all have the occational brain fart 🙂

Hehe, sometimes it feels I make a living out of it!

Interesting. I hope to find a solution a little lighter than your ideas, but like you say, the goal is to make it all strong enough to resist any type of flexing. Fun times huh! Cheers mate

I figured the washout is lost if the ailerons are left that way. And I wanted the washout to make the stall characteristics docile. And my OCD screams at me every time I see the droopy aileron that doesn’t line up with the wing tip!

Thanks mate. Slowly chipping away at it