Montana Feedback

I have excused myself from getting my hands dirty the last couple of days due to an apparent sinus infection.  Good times.

But Don did get an answer from the bearhawk builder in Montana, with responses to our earlier queries.

Key points:

• Project was started in 2000; owner is now selling due to medical issues.  Aircraft was built in the garage of an EAA technical counselor who was involved "from day one"  (Probably because it was the owner's first project.)  Very encouraging.
• No cargo door because it's not in the plans!  (I guess it was a later, builder initiated improvement).  Relatively straightforward to retrofit, but does involve some welding.  And removal of fabric covering (which is Stits process, by the way).
• The Airframe & Powerplant mechanic who did the evaluation rated the sheet metal work on the wings as "fair" due to some imperfect riveting (rivets not flush, or not bucked/crimped perfectly).  This is good news because it is not a dimensional issue (i.e. wings are straight!).  We will want to remove wing skins and redo some riveting.
• The same A&P rated the TIG-welded fuselage cage as "good."
• All material and hardware came from a known good supplier (Aircraft Spruce).  Except the engine, which was salvaged from a damaged aircraft (engine was not damaged, but was overhauled to zero time).  Also, project includes a constant-speed prop from same source.  Bonus!
• Building logs are not 100% complete, but should be OK.
• The landing gear is 4-6" longer than called for by the plans, a modification intended for rough fields/bush flying.

Overall, this is encouraging information and makes sense.  Slightly better than I was hoping, actually.

Traffic Paint

Picked up supplies for a head-to-head test of asphalt floor covering paints. One gallon of traffic paint, and a smaller quantity of indoor/outdoor semi-gloss latex.

I plan to conduct the test tomorrow.

Walls are Painted!

The whole crew was on hand for 2-2.5 hours of painting: rolling semi-gloss over the white primer.

There is still some minor brushwork to be done before we move on ... To the floor.

Primed and Ready

After my closest-yet pass with flaking out, I rallied and spent a bit less than three hours completing the primer coat on the remaining four walls. It was all detail brushwork.

There's a darned good chance we'll skip the detailing on the topcoat, which is why I spent a bit more time.

Now for Thanksgiving, I just need to make sure I'm out of town by noon, so that my "traveling" exemption will apply for the day.

Semi-Gloss

Picked up two gallons for the top coat. It was late, and I knew Don was not coming tomorrow, so I then played the guitar instead of opening up the primer can at this hour. Oh, did I mention the Squier and Pignose have been in here for a couple of weeks?

Sang an electric version of "Jim Jones" (great natural reverb and got the creepy feeling that I was being listened to from behind the metal wall). Time to go sleep.

The vehicles in here are not what I always imagined.

Questions for the Helena, Montana Bearhawk Builders.

Was the rear cargo door left off because the fuselage frame was modified?
How difficult do you think it will be to rework the fabric skin to include this door?
Why are you not completing the project?
Have there been any design updates issued that you have incorporated since your plans were issued?
Why do you think the inspecting A&P only rated the work on the wings as fair?
Who were your major hardware suppliers?
What is the total time on the O-360?
What is the history on the propeller?
What kind of building logs did you keep?
Was this your first aircraft build?
Did you have any help along the way from inspectors or mechanics?
What kind of welding did you use for the fuselage?
What was the most difficult part of the build process?
What fabric covering system did you use?
What did you use to paint your welded fuselage frame?
Do you have any jigs or fixtures that might be useful for completing the project?
How much longer is the landing gear than the standard bearhawk?
How far along is the wiring?
Were you going to set this plane up as a constant speed prop?

How We Roll

Took the whole family and spent about 3 hours priming the walls, while the kids battled for hegemony over the tricycle and the CD boom box (Vic's old one).

Will spun The Stone Roses, Willy and the Poorboys, and Fairytale for our travails, before declaring that he was tired of listening to music.

All six walls have now been "rolled," with about 40% of the touch-up ceiling brushwork done.

Matt requested a full view of the hangar. He did NOT request the wagon, but's that's just "how we roll."