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Post by dmar836 on Jan 15, 2016 11:10:51 GMT -6
I still need to pick up the books but apparently it was built in 1974 and had 300 hrs. on it. Was well built by a Mr. Wagner and had a "Bicentennial" paint job - red, white, and blue with some stars and gold stripes. So I assume it was flying around '76. The fuse and tail feathers are in good shape but I'll build new wings. Anybody recognize it? Dave
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Post by Supervee on Jan 15, 2016 11:43:53 GMT -6
Dave, thanks for posting….Yup, Marney Wagners old V-Witt. Damaged in a hand propping incident , made contact with a hangar I was told…Jeff Dietz?.....Had a Porche or VW type 4 engine on it originally. It was originally assigned race #81….The number is still available if you wish, I will assign it to you!! A great start to a Supervee ….Please keep us informed…Ed
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Post by dmar836 on Jan 15, 2016 16:37:23 GMT -6
Great info, Ed! Thanks. I would love to keep it as #81. So, I wonder if there is a pic of the plane floating about? Dave
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Post by Supervee on Jan 15, 2016 17:02:44 GMT -6
I just sent you a copy of an old FV 'Vee Gram' cover sheet with a picture of it taxiing by, and a sample of the Supervee Update newsletter. Aircraft Spruce's Catalogue used to have a pic of it…..Do you think the one wing is useable? The Guy that had the incident, Jeff Dietz, was a commercial pilot in Minnesota….When he bought it from Marney, I think it got flown from California to Minnesota... Race #81 is reserved for you…Ed
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Post by dmar836 on Jan 15, 2016 17:33:48 GMT -6
Thank Ed. I'll take a look. Both wings were there and appear to be of the same vintage but I'd be afraid of them. You can see the few holes punched in them. Looks like a little leading edge damage on one side as well but I would never have guessed a big hit. Then again, if it hit enough to bend the fuse maybe it popped a wing out of the "receiver". One spar is chipped around the plug end. Overall they just look a little beat and dry. Perhaps that hit caused enough concern to ground it. I see some rosette welds on the rear spar carry through and the nearby tubes are bare there. My guess is the fuse was repaired but never reassembled. Dave
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Post by dmar836 on Jan 15, 2016 17:52:09 GMT -6
My isp was out for about the 10 minutes you sent those pics. I responded with my phone and now, with it running again, there is no new mail. Could you resend it? Didn't see a V Witt in the current catalog but I've tossed all the past ones. Dave
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Post by Supervee on Jan 15, 2016 20:00:11 GMT -6
I 'snail mailed' the picture today. Don't have a scanner… Don't throw the wings away, a few more eyeballs on them would be helpful, perhaps they can be rebuilt and used. Perhaps not. When you get a project like this, you need to keep an open mind, and let patience be your friend. Building, and re-building an airplane can be overwhelming, so look at it one part at a time...
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Post by dmar836 on Feb 27, 2016 22:06:07 GMT -6
Today I welded up a hole where a tab had been torn off(looks like it once had a baggage area), ground and filed off a few other old, broken tabs, pulled the gear, and loaded her up. Tomorrow will be a dreaded long day of windy outdoor sandblasting. Dave
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Post by dmar836 on Feb 28, 2016 15:20:21 GMT -6
About 1/3 done blasting.
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Post by dmar836 on Apr 17, 2016 21:48:52 GMT -6
Not much activity here. I was able to clean off and rinse out the fiberglass tank. BTW, Scrubbing Bubbles has many a use and cuts grease pretty well. I don't like to leave it on aluminum until it's dry and I really rinse well so it doesn't stay in lap joints but its good stuff for aviation cleaning. Gets rid of wax but is great on doped surfaces too. Anyway, also welded up my brake pedals but will likely redo them. They won't come apart but I like prettier welds. My buddy gave me some Cleveland master cylinders from his biplane. I tried some Cessna cyl but they're too big and just wouldnt fit my pedals. Also both are too long. 6" c-c is hard to find but I might shorten these shafts. The "free" price was right. Later this week I will mock up the master cylinders and rudder cables and get final fasteners in the elevator linkage. Humidity is coming and I really want to get the covering going. Dave
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Post by Supervee on Apr 18, 2016 4:26:41 GMT -6
Good progress. Yes!…Humidity is the enemy of gluing on fabric. If poly-tak blushes, its adhesion goes way down…..I have an air conditioned rag shop….Very necessary in South Carolina.
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Post by dmar836 on May 2, 2016 23:19:49 GMT -6
A little work done. Made brake pedals and control stick and mocked up a master cylinder. I don't like that there is about 1/2 inch of elevator push-pull play at the tip of the stick. I plan to remove the tubes, weld up the holes, and redrill/ream them. Dave
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Post by dmar836 on May 14, 2016 10:31:47 GMT -6
So 90% of the play proved to be in the tube-in-a-tube bellcrank pivot(a non-plan mod I'm okay with). I cut it out, bushed it, and reinstalled with the necessary spacers. Took a ton of slop out.
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Jared
Junior Member
Posts: 56
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Post by Jared on May 14, 2016 11:48:37 GMT -6
I'm having somewhat of the same issue with my right aileron control. It is where the push-pull rod comes up to the control horn, where there is a bolt going through the tubing out to the aileron. When I move the stick left and right, you can see left side moves in correlation with the stick, whereas the right side has some free play. I will try and get pictures early this week.
Thanks for showing some updates Dave, it's looking good!
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Post by dmar836 on May 14, 2016 16:46:09 GMT -6
Yeah, start a thread on yours too. You could bush it if there's enough edge distance. Otherwise you could weld up the hole and redrill it. Looking forward to seeing it. Dave
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