This is Peter Annis's (skywagon 8a) Smith Cub, hanging wings today.
Proud builder capt Pete Annis
This is Peter Annis's (skywagon 8a) Smith Cub, hanging wings today.
Proud builder capt Pete Annis
Marine Corps Aviation since 1966
I helped out the posting of pics for Pete. He is a neighbor of John Meade and myself. This aircraft is going on floats. The lake is just outside Pete's house---I mean like 200 feet.
Marine Corps Aviation since 1966
What a sense of accomplishment that must be.. it looks great.
Physics always bats last.
That is a beautiful sight. Congratulations! What prop, engine, floats?
Captain Ron
I used to feel bad about the 12 different shades of yellow we have on 'Tuff Tweety' but after watchin all the planes at the flyins, I don't feel so bad anymore - its fairly common. But only with yellow.
"Life is Tough - Its even tougher if you're stupid" : John Wayne
yep, ALWAYS paint it WHITE first on all parts, then yellow.... and other colors.... I always paint white first, no mater what the final color..Originally Posted by captainron55746
Yellow will make you crazy...Dad is doing a Fairchild F24 yellow and he is pulling his hair out!
ya I should say, EVEN with painting it white first you still have tint/shade issues..!!
Wow! That airplane is beautiful! I like that landing light, and man that exhaust looks sexy, did I mention how nice your instrument panel set up is.
Congratulations! Are you gonna name her?
Fast or slow, always low, freedom of flight soothes the soul.
Thank you Tom (Seaworthy) for posting the pics and for your help in hanging the wings.
The prop is a 77" Whirlwind ground adjustable. Engine is a IO-360-B1D (180) on a dyna-focal zero thrust line mount, and the floats are EDO 89A-2000s. I am not concerned about the different "shades" of yellow as it is a seaplane which I will be dragging into small bush scratching places where there are not many people to see it. Therefor I will not be worried about scratching it. If it was a "show stopper" I would not be able to enjoy it as much. This is my "beater" plane. The 185 is my "show off" plane.
Yes Mike, I agree, I have always painted white or a light color first as well. This time was my first try at using the Stewarts system and since it is different than just dope & fabric, which is what I am used to doing, I tried to follow their instructions. The manual said to spray the top coat over the black Ekofil. I didn't find the jug of white Ekofill in the bottom of the box until after the top coat was already on. It wasn't until a couple years later when I ordered some more paint that the instructions for the use of the white showed up in a supplemental instruction sheet. I wasn't about to repaint anything. Particularly since I hate painting. I did repaint the rudder since it had a run in it and I had some final parts that had to be done. The rudder is now the best painted part of the whole job but there are twice as many coats of top coat as the manual calls for. And since it was a cured yellow top coat before the repaint that became the light base coat which made it come out so well.
The landing light is a $30 LED which is set up with another in the other wing with a Wig-Wag flasher for maximum visibility. We have a lot of folks who fly around here that don't seem to bother looking for other airplanes. So I'll need all of the help I can get for traffic avoidance. No I'm not going to name her, unless we are having a bad day, then she might have a few four lettered names.
Thank you all for your kind remarks.
N1PA
Wow! Very nice! I need to get going. I should be able to spend a fair amount of time over the next couple months.
Thanks for the inspiration!
cafi
Hmmmm... Innovative wheels there. The new replacement for Bushwheels? Four caster at each gear to float over terrain and compensate for crosswinds. I can't put my finger on it, but something in the back of my mind says there is a flaw here. LOL !!
John Scott
While I respect the folks that use Cubs to make a living, my uses are for recreation and leisure - AND I'M NOT ASHAMED!!!
Your idea of leaving a long tail on the nicropress fitting and heat shrinking is nice. The nicropress(es) still have plenty of air and the tail will not hurt anybody. Good work!
cubnicro.jpg
Actually Tom wasn't supposed to show those wheels as they are part of a new top secret STC project
N1PA
I agree with MIKE!
White or you must use the same primer on everything. Is it painted with Aerothane? That S*!T is just Clear with a hint of yellow in it!
Brandon
Also, Beautiful Aircraft! I think you will absolutely Love that thing. And if anybody gives you any crap about the paint ask them what color there brand new Smith Cub is painted like
Awesome Pete!! How long to first flight?
Jay
Done building a Smith Cub Wide Body.
Looks great Pete. Can't wait to hear about the first flight.
Steve Pierce
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
Henry Ford
It probably won't fly until the fall as my summers are fairly busy with other things and in spite of what it now looks like there is still a lot to do.
N1PA
Looking Good Pete,
Sorry I was unavailable on Friday. The day job gets in the way.
John
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a well preserved body but rather to slide in sideways, well used up proclaiming "WOW What a Ride"
Progress
N1PA
Pete, now your at the point of, dont rush things and finish everything you wanted to do.
Started the engine today. This is the first time that this engine has run in 40 years. Just been sitting in a crate in my dry shop for the entire time. All I did was a good visual inspection for rust. There were areas which could have rusted if it was going to happen, nothing. Had the fuel injection system overhauled and installed two new Pmags. This is the smoothest running IO-360 that I have ever seen. Probably the dynafocal mount, Pmags and the Whirlwind prop made for the smooth combination. No O-360 shake on shut down either.
N1PA
It's heresy to not worry about a little extra weight.. Our 0-360 Bushmaster is l515 on 2250 floats, handles differently from SC. Like the 185 and old Seabee, sink from weight when you need it isn't a bad thing.
Pete
Down with that terrible bug going around for three days---will take pics today if you are around.
Marine Corps Aviation since 1966
Pete
Congratulations!!
Weight seems to be good for your combination of kit, engine, prop, floats, etc. Lots of these are coming in at 1300pds and over on wheels, so you did well.
I think you are going to be really pleased. I am looking forward to seeing it in person, (and pictures when you can).
Keep us posted on the first flight. Very very nice!!
Bill
Very Blessed.
Outstanding! Looking foward to first flight news!
Do not attempt to perform this high wire aerial act in your own home. Only elderly retired airline captains are allowed to perform
this death defying feat! Isn't there like an OSHSA Act or law against this???
Marine Corps Aviation since 1966
Fueling AVGAS in a hangar? I was told not to do that.
I pump gas into my plane in the hangar. It's grounded to the truck. Gasoline is dangerous no matter where you use it.
Marine Corps Aviation since 1966
Thank you for the warning.
Neat water rudder pulley setup. I fuel up my plane in the hangar too, grounded of course.
The rudder retract on the right....
why did I not think of that all the times I crawled up on the step
to reach across because I constantly leave the little rascals down
and don't discover untill I rotate her 75 degrees to beach her.
And the belly pulley....sweet.
I like the water rudder handle on the left, because when it's gusty and your trying to turn from downwind to upwind and at the same time lift the rudder to get it to weathervain quicker my right hand on the stick is busy trying to keep me from sinking a tip.
Glenn
Interesting wire pulls.
I would like a report about how much of the time your toes catch on the retract wires as you get in and out... Please do it soon so I can change mine over as I rebuild!
Joe, leaning in to retract the rudders is an isometric stretch... good for us. About all the stretching I get some times
I don't know where you've been me lad, but I see you won first Prize!
That is beautiful. Thanks for the pictures, they really look great.
Joe and Glenn, The EDO installation drawings all show the water rudder handle mounted on the right side. Some are on the right edge of the instrument panel as mine is and some are on the interior right side panel. I never asked anyone at EDO why, as I just assumed that being next to the door and away from the flap handle is a good idea.
aktango, The retract wires are all well inboard of the climbing steps so there is never any possibility of catching a toe. The only place where you can catch a toe is at the tail end on top of the float where they join up with the rudders. This is the same on all EDO 1650, 2000 and 2130 installations. All of this installation with the exception of the pull up cable pulley on the cowl is in accordance with EDO's installation drawings. I did make some of the strut to float and fuselage fittings as this installation set up is from a Citabria and does not match a Cub.Interesting wire pulls.
I would like a report about how much of the time your toes catch on the retract wires as you get in and out... Please do it soon so I can change mine over as I rebuild!
Joe, leaning in to retract the rudders is an isometric stretch... good for us. About all the stretching I get some times
Incidentally, those long steps are the extended ones which are supplied by Backcountry with their kits as an option. They came from Javron. I would assume that they could supply a longer version that would be more convenient for mounting on floats. It would be nice to have them long enough to go full length all the way forward to help when climbing up to the gas tank. It is a nice extrusion with a lot of lightening holes.
N1PA
It is surprisingly easy to pull up while standing on the float. When installed with the EDO pull up tube there is so much drag that you need to climb up to the cockpit to get in a good position to operate it.
N1PA
What a beautiful piece of work! Now I need to get to Mass so I can fly in it!!
Bob
First Flight This Morning! The DAR was here yesterday, which was a perfect day for a first flight, glassy water with a few ripples. It took me all day to get it all closed up after he left. This morning the wind was about 8-10 mph and forecast to increase. Broke water in about 6-7 seconds, climbed at an indicated 1000 feet per minute and cruised at 95 mph x-checked with the gps at 55% power. That was 18" manifold pressure and 2550 rpm. It will take a few tries to get the prop dialed in correctly. Preliminary stall clean was 40 and full flaps 32 mph. It was difficult because of the rough air. The rigging seemed to be dead on straight in spite of the rough air. Engine temperatures were at max of 346 CHT and 177 on the oil. So I guess that I got the baffles correct. Actually I think that the oil could be a little warmer. We'll see.
N1PA
Congratulations. It sounds like it flies as good as it looks!
I'm sure you felt a big sense of accomplishment and relief when the DAR gave you that pink AW certificate.
Sent from my iPhone from the middle of nowhere using Tapatalk
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
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