Quoted from streffpilot

Thats awesome progress on your weight goals, Brian!!! Good job.....

A question for you.....have you considered laying up a more streamlined cowl for your engine? Just was thinking about this at work today.

Mmmm it may add some speed, but I kinda like everything hanging out in the breeze....Cub style.  I will smooth out front of cowl for a smooth transition from the starter ring. But most likely stop there. I even like the raw aspect to the opening around the starter! . I think I saw somewhere, somebody modified a Supermax cowl giving the plane a smooth updated look!

As far as a book Tom. I put some though into it. My wife actually wants to dabble in writing. After successfuly acheiving all my goals we may actually give it a go!
Lol on the movie deal....I'll be lucky to generate interest in a book.
On a Movie update I mentioned this to my wife. Told her I thought Denzel W should play me.....she replied if that's the case she is going to play herself 😱😉😀
Thanks guys!

Great work, Brian - it's really looking good. I agree on the 'naked' look of the exposed engine, suits the Max, plus it will help with cooling.

Congrats on your weight loss. That's very impressive, and I bet you feel a whole lot better than you did in your 500# days. And - you can fly now!

Have you done a preliminary weighing of your plane yet? It looks to be close to finished, & I'd be interested to know the weight. Mine was surprisingly heavy at 418 pounds. I don't know where all that weight came from     But it flies well!

Good luck for the final sprint to completion.

Bruce

Good JOB Brian!

Thanks for all the support guys. Bruce I plan on a weight and balance in a few days to get an idea on what if anything has to be moved to achieve a good balance! At 418 you are over posted weight by only 18 pounds. From what I can see In The experimental world that is actually pretty darn good. I hope I am that close. The  VW engine is over 60 ponds heavier than your engine. Yet. both models have the same projected weight on the website.....it will be interesting! Updates soon!

Ok ... while waiting for a couple of parts for my fuel system.(firewall forward)... everything firewall back is done!  I decided it was time for a weight and balance!!! Well it came our a bit "chubby" it has a published weight of 400 lbs. I added ballistic chute, electric start and battery. Along with charging system and duel elevator cables. Oops and duel wing tanks......I was hoping for 435ish! Maybe 450. Well we are at 479. Dave at minimax doesn't think this is an issue. He said they can be as high as 525lbs. On the good news front the balance is perfect.....no weight needed there I must be at 99 percent. Will not be long now!!

Looking good, I think you're gonna beat me into the air but hopefully I won't be far behind!

YEEHAW your getting close now. That airplane looks good on you. Hope your parts come soon cause I wanna hear that puppy growl.

Your persistent, consistent progress is admirable. Looks great!

Looks great Brian! Aren't you going to paint that cowl? You really look like another person compared to your early pictures 🙃

Looks really good, Brian. I love that 'muscle plane' look of the exposed engine. I bet it will sound pretty good too!

Shame your weight came out higher than you were hoping: it was like that for me. I know Lake Harley has built down to weight on the smaller engined plane, but I wonder how many have managed the published weight figures on the larger engined models. I'm not sure I could have saved much on my build - maybe if I'd spent a lot more money on aircraft paint rather than 'latex'.

But I have plenty of performance I don't need with my 60hp engine, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed with your performance in the air.  Especially if you keep shrinking your body the way you have - a great result over the time you've been working at it.

I'm looking forward to a video of your engine run up. After that, you're pretty much good to go - yaay!

Bruce

Just remember for the first flight.
YOUR Stall Speed Should be HIGHER than published as well.

Brian looks like your pretty close, keep at it!  

Thanks for the support guys. The cowl Is slowly coming together. It is designed for the non electric start motor. So it requires a lot of modification! I also expect a higher stall speed along with possible airspeed indicator error. Initial flights will be flown with significant caution. Right now I am immersed in mandatory trading for my biannual renewal of my paramedic certificate. It is keeeping me from the hanger😩 Fuel  system installed. Metal shielding in place on fuselage behind muffler. It is aluminum with a layer of fiberfrax. I wrapped rear exhaust for further protection (it is awefully close) Streamline struts installed carberator out for professional rebuild and of course Snoopy in search of Red Barron in place!!!! Updates to soon follow.

Ya gotta love that dog.Must have had a January thaw; no snow. Looking finist kind.

Brian, you are doing freeking awesome! I am super jealous of your hard work and progress! A great inspiration to me and my vmax.

Cant wait to hear an engine run

Looking superb, Brian. She looks like she's ready to go flying - you must be soooo close now.

Bruce

Brian your commitment, dedication and achievement on many levels is truly amazing.
She looks beautiful and strong! I am very happy for you.

Soon you will take her up to the skies... where you both belong...

Cheers
Reto

Thanks guys!!! I am soooo close to stating the engine! Darn mandatory training slowing me down! I will be finished this week! Updates soon !!! Hopefully next update is a video of her running!

Brian you working on Tailwheel Endorsement?

Way to go Brian! Can wait to hear that engine come alive.

Hi Brian, I was reading pages 2 and 3 of this thread, and quite a few of the pics you posted are inverted. So it was kind of foxing that you re-confirmed that the pics appear erect to you. I think it is some quirk with the upload software in your smartphone or Ipad or whatever. By the way the inverted pics revert to right-side-up when you click on them. That is even more intriguing.

My suggestion is you be very careful when you fly this airplane.  It may appear to you that you are flying erect , straight and level, but in reality you may be flying inverted , who knows ? (LOL)

I also liked the International space station analogy that some one posted . Very funny.

Been a while since update. Things are progressing smoothly! Yes Puff I am taking TW lessons in a Cub...  I was slowed down due to winter around here and the fact my TW instructor moved onto another job. She was 106 pounds . Next lightest instructor required me to loose an additional 22 pounds.... 12 of those to go. That also puts me at a nice  Minimax weight..... all coming together well. Ricardo you I hope to be starting engine in a few days! I will post video soon (I hope) Keith I know the picture delima is a strange iOS phenomenon. Since I take pictures with IPhone and post with IPad I see all the photos upright.
I think I figured hoe the best way to hold phone when taking photos and hopefully that has become much better. I can imagine the " Spider-Man" building style can be irritating to. See......but hey guess I am a bit of a show off!!!🙃

Great! I'm glad to see you're almost there.....  

I'm Stopped on my PPL as I just found out I have cataracts which must be removed. Once that's done and the vision correction is complete. I'll finish.

"Spider Man building style":  Brian is *that* your secret to weight loss!?!  

Could not resist.  Great build, build log, and inspirational story overall.

You've lost so much weight I think you need to change your name to littlebrixx1.

Your craftsmanship is amazing and weight loss inspiring.

Great Job and accompaniment Brian Congrats !!

Thanks guys! More detailed pics to follow in a couple days..... but here is link to first run up of motor. Runs perfectly!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzW5Zdv7GBPpc2JqTVFvbG1jREE/view?usp=drivesdk

SOUNDS WICKED GOOD!!!!

Good on yer, Brian! A real waypoint in your build. Certainly sounds better than a 2 stroke. Seems like your brakes are effective, too.

Bruce

Sounds great Brian! You're almost there, but don't rush, do a lot of taxi run to became familiar with airplane position (ground height) also ground control, recognize instruments readings , throttle position, etc. If you're operating from an asphalt surface it will be trickier.

By the way, today I flew my Minimax again after 3 months... no suit and tie this time   .  What a Joy!  Beautiful weather also.