Thanks for the suggestions guys! They are a lot of help. I may try the synthetic rubber. Ricardo how is the wind flow in cockpit with side panels removed ?

Good idea Richardo! Looks good. Love the color of your plane too!

Bret  

Quoted from bigbrixx1

.... Ricardo how is the wind flow in cockpit with side panels removed ?

Just perfect, no wind problem at all, however I sealed the area behind the cockpit

Thanks for the reply Ricardo! Sorry It has  been a while but spring sprung and I was pulled away from the Max for a bit!
     On an update starting to install the BRS-750 chute I purchased from Slomax. It turned out to be a fair deal. I had him send it directly to BRS. They repacked it. Replaced rocket. And here it is!. Notice reinforcements where harness  run through fuselage. Then I am going to make small reliefs on turtledeck stringers to run over the outside and will cover them with fabric when covering plane. I plan on rocket coming out side. I need to check with Dave. I think if I remove first stringer between station 3 and 4 or thin out that stringer. it will leave plenty of room for rocket. Tail wheel installed. Notice simple clamp using bolt, nut and washers to keep doublers in place whole glue dries! Soon I will be moving fuselage to me hanger space so work can continue there!

Few more

On the weight front 5.8 pounds gone! Now weigh at 270 pounds. I decided to try the Max on for size! It is roomier than I expected! Still need to loose about 30 or even better 40 pounds! I am still TFTL (to fat to flare ) got to love a selfie stick!

Couple more, got the wife to take these ! And yes I did make airplane noises! After she went back upstairs of course!

Methinks these should be videos so we can hear the airplane noises  

Brian: Things are very slow down my hall here at work today and I have read this entire thread today. I can't do beautiful wood work, but I can certainly recognize it and that is the work that you have done. I will keep up with the rest of your posts to see the final product.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

I live on the northern edge of the Texas Coastal Plains, a little east of Houston. It is not unusual for us to have a 30 degree or more spread between the high and low temperatures in a single day in any season. Have you considered putting a vent in the top of that enclosed canopy? Or maybe one of those NACA inlets, I think they are called, in the side of the fuselage? Perhaps you do not have such temperature swings where you live.

Great job on both your projects.

Quoted from Sterling Silver

Bruce: Things are very slow down my hall here at work today and I have read this entire thread today. I can't do beautiful wood work, but I can certainly recognize it and that is the work that you have done. I will keep up with the rest of your posts to see the final product.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

I live on the northern edge of the Texas Coastal Plains, a little east of Houston. It is not unusual for us to have a 30 degree or more spread between the high and low temperatures in a single day in any season. Have you considered putting a vent in the top of that enclosed canopy? Or maybe one of those NACA inlets, I think they are called, in the side of the fuselage? Perhaps you do not have such temperature swings where you live.

Great job on both your projects.

Thanks for the advice and the compliments ! (I think it's for me, Bruce is also building a Max and his wood work puts mine to shame) that is a great idea about an air inlet. I have seen some round type that open and close. I shall look into these!
And sorry no videos of me making airplane noises. A man can only humiliate himself so much 😉!

Sorry about getting your name wrong.   I intend the originator of this thread, the dwindling man. That is a good thing. I need to dwindle considerably, both for aircraft performance and my health. However, cockpit width is no concern at all on a Tandem AirBike. Seat width? (Airplane's, not mine. Mine is plenty wide.) That's another thing, but shoulder room is great.

Quoted from Sterling Silver

Sorry about getting your name wrong.   I intend the originator of this thread, the dwindling man. That is a good thing. I need to dwindle considerably, both for aircraft performance and my health. However, cockpit width is no concern at all on a Tandem AirBike. Seat width? (Airplane's, not mine. Mine is plenty wide.) That's another thing, but shoulder room is great.

I'll bet shoulder room is great ! Thank  you for the kind words! The project is moving to the hanger today. Weather is to nice to stay in my basement!

In order to not spend all summer in basement. And I needed a bit more room. Project moved into my hanger space ! Wings already there . Fuse today! My helper the arrived fooled by the offer of free lunch!

Couple more . BTW nice EAA wing rack. Total cost about 35 dollars!

Here are pics and diagram for wing rack. Instead of 4x4 I glued and screwed 2 2x4's together! Aircraft spruce sells the kit for about 250 plus shipping.....or  build yourself for about 40 dollars!

Me likey likey the wing rack!  
I wonder about incorporating transport into that rack...

Nice! plane is already in the nest. I have the same wing rack, found the plans in this forum...where else?

Quoted from Ricardo

Nice! plane is already in the nest. I have the same wing rack, found the plans in this forum...where else?

Yes I found the plans here a while back! Easy to build. Very nice rack!

Mounted ballistic chute! Two RS9 pieces across fuse back deck. Then reinforced with plywood for chute pack mount. I am running bridles thru 1/4 inch slots in turtle deck stringers. The will allow easy break away. But leave smooth look. I I have reinforced the areas where the slots have been cut for bridles. Chute will blow out left side. Notice doubled up top stringers. I plan on laying extra bridle material and large connector clamp in there wit Velcro to keep in place. Bridles run from LG axel into fuselage. I plan to Velcro bridles onto LG legs to prevent them from flapping in flight. You can also see reinforcements for bridles where they come through the fuse. And a once shot of LG reinforcement pads!

Here is a few more.

Couple more. You can make out stringer doublers. I plan on adding a 1/4 inch stringer to replace missing stringer section. It should easily blow out if the need to deploy rocket becomes necessary. The bridles in top center section will be held in leave with velcro. The concept is rocket deployed out left side. Primary bridal breaks free from stringers. Main bridals break free from top three stringers and plane should come down with slight nose down position. Yet doublers should leave most if not all stringers intact so as to maintain strength for roll over protection. You can make out potential location for deployment handle.

Looks really good.  It is going to be a sweet ride.  Good job on the weight loss.

Thanks airhead! Just back from 3 week motorcycle trip. Oshkosh was halfway point. Met Dave and saw the Epic! It is Awesome. I decided to get in the plan special! Sadly I gained 4 pounds on the trip. Tough eating on the road! But back to loosing weight again!  Here is a couple more photos of chute install

Sending off some pics to the BRS people to. Make sure the install is satisfactory. Meantime I am fitting the horizontal and vertical tail. Really starting to look like an airplane now!

Oh and I feel I should mention the 4 pounds I gained on vacation......3 are gone! Also exciting news! I started my flight training yesterday! Finally got to a low enough weight! I am training on a CTLS light sport aircraft. I plan to get my light sport certificate! I know I will eventually need a tail dragged endorsement! But I fit very comfortably in this plane. It is local and I LOVE the flying. I cannot believe I have finally reached the stage in which I can fly! It is AWESOME! Sadly I was soooo excited I didn't take any pics. But no worries. I will make up for it in next weeks lesson! Thank you everybody for all your support over the last 18 months! The build continues! But now also the flight training! I still cannot believe it!

Well done Brian! Congratulations on hitting a major major way point. The flying is just going to be so much fun. Bugger the building - go flying!

Your plane is looking superb. It's great seeing all your work coming together.

It's getting closer  

Bruce

Quoted from beragoobruce

Well done Brian! Congratulations on hitting a major major way point. The flying is just going to be so much fun. Bugger the building - go flying!

Your plane is looking superb. It's great seeing all your work coming together.

It's getting closer  

Bruce

Thanks for the words of encouragement Bruce. I cannot believe I am really flying!

Whoop hoop it sure is coming together. Got to do my first take off today... Best thing is the flight school is 5 minutes from my hanger. So I build a bit then head over to fly! I am addicted! I think I am becoming an airport rat!

Great Job, and there are much worse things than being an airport bum. learn the fly whatever you can, I have flown many types of aircraft and have had a ball in them all. but also come see me or someone that can teach you to keep the little wheel in the back where it belongs.

Just think it was not that long ago that all this was just a dream for you and now YOU are making it all come true. My hat is off to you cause you have the "right stuff". Keep on keeping on; and savor these times.

Lawrence Airport?