Teardrop builders manual

[swoody126]

...the illustrations pictures and printed words do a GREAT JOB in this old retyred General Shop teacher's opinion.

That means a lot coming from you. Did you catch any safety issues?

If you don't mind, jump over into the jungles of the Amazon and give it a quick and honest review.



Tony

and jungles they are

'twaz my pleasure to share my feelings

sw

[tony.latham]

'twaz my pleasure to share my feelings

Tony

[Squigie]

So, you built a plane?

What type and materials?
Kit, plans, back-of-an-envelope design?

[tony.latham]

So, you built a plane?

What type and materials?
Kit, plans, back-of-an-envelope design?

Did I mention that somewhere in the bowels of the book?



I built her starting in about 1991. She's an Avid Flyer STOL model. Originally I put a Rotax 582 in it, ran it out and stuck a Subaru E81 engine after that. We parted ways a while back but I see she's still listed as airworthy.

I flew her to Oshkosh a couple of times. That's mandatory, eh?



Tony

[Squigie]

Very cool.
It's mentioned in the bio on the back.

I've never messed with the EA81s. Lots of time with EA82s (carb and EFI) and even the EK31 (2-stroke, 356cc), but never an EA81.

I've been trying convince the wife to let me build a shop behind the house, so I can start on a Whittman Tailwind with the Proziac (sp?) wing fold design. The resistance is still substantial.
Part of her objection is probably the fact that it's wood, and not steel. I think she sees a wooden airplane as a never-ending stream of cash turning into woodworking tools, whereas a steel-frame plane has the perception of mostly just cut-grind-weld ... and I already do that.

There isn't much objection to the TD, though ... even though it's a very similar concept (to me, anyway).


Anyway, I did buy the book.

[tony.latham]

so I can start on a Whittman Tailwind...

I recall walking around a Tailwind at Oshkosh. Sleek and fast. Wood tools? I have wondered the tools the Wright boys had in their shop back in 1900. I'm assuming it was nothing but handtools. Puts things in perspective.

Anyway, I did buy the book.

I hope it helps in some way.

Tony

[Squigie]

so I can start on a Whittman Tailwind...

I recall walking around a Tailwind at Oshkosh. Sleek and fast. Wood tools? I have wondered the tools the Wright boys had in their shop back in 1900. I'm assuming it was nothing but handtools. Puts things in perspective.

Yep.
I think power tools are often a crutch that is leaned upon to the point of failure for many people.
Hand tools offer greater control and more precision, for most things.
People are in too much of a hurry.

My wife goes nuts when I buy tools. But she doesn't really understand that I have very little, in comparison to many people - especially power tools.

My primary hobby is building custom rifles. For that, I only use power tools for a very limited number of operations.
Everything else is done by hand. I don't own a lathe, mill, shaper, surface grinder, etc. It's all hand tools, even for crowning and chambering.

As of last night, I'm 23 hours into inletting commercial Mauser action bottom metal into some fancy walnut. 23 hours to move 5/8". Just the bottom metal. The tools are simple and small. But it takes a lot of time to do it right.
People forget about the time.

The one tool that I have, that is a fairly unusual tool for a gunsmith - hobbyist or professional - is my 3D printer. I don't use it often. But when I do, it saves hours (if not days) worth of time better spent elsewhere. When I need a light-use or single-use jig, fixture, or work holding device that is going to be difficult or time-consuming to fabricate; or need to prototype a part without investing hours in metal shaping; I model it in CAD and send it to the 3D printer. Then I can work on something else while the Chinese apprentice squeezes corn-based plastic through its poop chute and turns it into something useful. Very use! Much easy!

The Wright brothers did have a gas engine and belt drive system in their shop. We all cheat in our own ways.

Something drew me to the Tailwind and I haven't been able to let go since. It has the speed. It has the stall. It has good payload. It handles well. It is fairly efficient. But you do pay for it for it ... in reduced forward visibility, especially on final approach.

Anyway, I did buy the book.

I hope it helps in some way.

Tony

I'm sure it will.
I tweaked my plans and designed myself into a corner again (hence, no build thread yet). As such, I'm trying to absorb some of the concepts in the book and on the forums, so it can marinate for a while.
I really need to just ditch this furnace and fork over the money for a compact unit like the Propex. The furnace is one of the major headaches.
I'll get 'er done, one way or another.

[tony.latham]

I'm 23 hours into inletting commercial Mauser action bottom metal into some fancy walnut.

My inletting has been limited to mostly-inletted factory muzzleloader stocks. My main bolt rifle is a .35 Whelen on a '98 action. I've put many in elk in the freezer with it and I think my wife has put at least six in our bellies there with it. Unfortunately, I was going light and put a fiberglass stock on it --our hills, as you know are steep. I like "wood guns" though.

Interesting on the Wright brother's gas motor. I might have to google up their shop.

Tony

[Squigie]

(...) My main bolt rifle is a .35 Whelen on a '98 action. I've put many in elk in the freezer with it and I think my wife has put at least six in our bellies there with it. (...)

This one will be .35 Whelen.
It'll be my third, and hopefully last.

[tony.latham]

It'll be my third

[Spotman]

Tony, ordered your book and it seems the USPS has screwed up again!
As of today, I still haven't received it and just did the Re-order with Amazon, trying again.
Listed is the re-routing they did and it even made it to my city, but just kept on going!

Monday, February 17
4:18 PM
Possible delay in delivery due to arrival at incorrect carrier facility
Glen Allen, VA
4:18 PM
Package arrived at a carrier facility
Glen Allen, VA US
5:30 AM
Package arrived at a carrier facility
Virginia Beach, VA US
5:27 AM
Package transferred to local postal carrier for final delivery
Virginia Beach, VA US
3:01 AM
Package departed an Amazon facility
Ashland, VIRGINIA US
Sunday, February 16
4:32 PM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility
Ashland, VIRGINIA US
4:19 AM
Package departed an Amazon facility
Baltimore, MARYLAND US
3:05 AM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility
Baltimore, MARYLAND US
12:24 AM
Package departed an Amazon facility
Wilmington, OH US
Saturday, February 15
10:43 PM
Package arrived at an Amazon facility
Wilmington, OH US
6:03 PM
Package departed an Amazon facility
Dallas, TEXAS US
Package has shipped

[tony.latham]

but just kept on going!

Ouch. I've seen that here in Idaho from time to time. Most stuff has to go through Salt Lake, but not twice.

Tony

[Squigie]

I believe you have to wait two weeks to request a replacement, but if it doesn't show up in the prescribed time period, Amazon will send a replacement and issue a package intercept for the original.


I ordered a bed frame for one of the kids in October.
On the second day of its journey, it went missing between Atlanta, GA, and Memphis, TN. Until the tracking number went dead in January, it maintained the same status.
Unfortunately for Amazon, the replacement that they sent was horrendously damaged during shipment - so badly so that I didn't even bring the package in the house during a rain storm. I left it where UPS dropped it, took photos, filed the appropriate reports/requests, and left it exposed until UPS felt like picking it back up for the return three days later. The driver was not happy, but he knew he should never have delivered it in that condition, in the first place.
(I did not attempt "Round 3.")

[Spotman]

According to Amazon the replacement will be here this weekend. We'll see!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[tony.latham]

According to Amazon the replacement will be here this weekend. We'll see!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Sheeeeesh.

Tony