Wow!

Are you going to do the other stock "red" stripes? Looks killer-

If I may make a suggestion......fly the airplane without the VGs first. You can always add the VGs later, no harm, no foul. That way, you'll know what the VGs did or did not do for you.

MTV

Thanks for the suggestion... but please please please dont turn my thread into a VG hijack... Its such a stale debate at this point. For reasons that are abundantly clear to me, they are going on. (Plus they were also already installed on the Vstab and Hstab prior to paint, so the ones on the wings must go on to be legal to fly)

With respect to 185GM, George's airplane was for sure an inspiration for the project. I got to see it up at Beegles when it was being rebuilt. I've taken styling ques from the Beegles artists, but I am going to let George have his plane. Mine will have my own fingerprint on it.

WingX will extend the red further outboard, and the bellypod will be solid red to balance it all out.

fantastic looking plane

Oh my. Looks awesome! Makes my winter project progress look pitiful.

Do you have a link to the led landing lights?

Tom wrote:Do you have a link to the led landing lights?

Sure- http://www.aeroleds.com/ There are lots of options out there now, but like anything, you get what you pay for. I have found Aeroleds to be top notch and the best out there.

Just finished reading all 27 pages of your latest masterpiece here Greg, and I can tell you that I really like your style of tasteful mods combined with the utilitarian look and function

A pic of the Aeroled landing and taxi in the wing.

I have AERO LED's, love em!

Some more good progress today... Had some friends lend a hand and we got to polishing the tops of the wings. Hit em pretty hard with Nuvite F9 as they were/are pretty rough. Polishing aint no joke... After the F9 pass, we still have to hit it with "C," and then finally "S." She's never gonna be a 1 foot beauty, but at ten feet she sure is starting to look nice. (dreading the underside)



Also got the Aeroled Sunbeacon runnin up on the top of the vert stab along with a LED bulb in the tailcone. Its nice as it syncs with the NSPs on the tips. The vStab fairing for the light was courtesy of Willie and Stene Aviation.

Is the LED position bulb from AeroLed also? I would like to replace all three of mine with these LED's.

Thanks

Those wings popped alive with the polish.

Nice work. I used to make a living in my younger days polishing the leading edges of Gulfstreams. Hated every minute of it but I became pretty good at it.

Man I like the new Gen LED lights. I don't even fly at night much but I love to light up like a spaceship. Wonder why that is..

Rv8tor wrote:Is the LED position bulb from AeroLed also? I would like to replace all three of mine with these LED's.

Thanks

The position light is not Aeroleds but a cheap LED I had left over from the 170 project. Aeroleds does make a tail strobe/position that is a direct fit, but I would def be over the edge on the UFO scale if I installed that. The Aeroleds NSPs also have white position in each tip so Im more than covered from the rear.

There is a lot of buz around LEDs these days. I did lots of research as well as did some side by sides before buying. Age old adage applies... you get what you pay for. Im super happy with my choice (bordering on embarrassed w/ how obnoxious the A/C will be on the taxiway. F-it)

Hey Greg just to mix it up a bit what glass for side windows did you settle on and why? I see they are tinted, is that with the new solar control material of Great Lakes?. Is side window replacement somewhat a PITA that should be done when repainting or are they relatively simple to fit? Just planning ahead......

NZMaule wrote:...what glass for side windows did you settle on and why? Is side window replacement somewhat a PITA that should be done when repainting or are they relatively simple to fit? Just planning ahead......

I replaced every bit of glass with Great Lakes. The skylites, rear, and mids are their darkest tint. The bubbles and windscreen are the middle tint. For both back windows, I went with the thicker glass which is nice. I am pleased overall, although I wish the skylites, mids and rears were a bit darker.

Like everything, side window replacement difficulty is a matter of opinion. It's sort of a PITA cuz you have to drill out and re-buck the rivets, and on the Skywagon, access to the backs on some is a bit tricky to get em right. Of course if your anal, you fall down the rabbit hole pretty quick.... Now that the surrounds are out, you might as well refinish them, and so on and so on... RE: doing it at painting time... Depends on how much you care. You will def have bare rivet heads on the exterior after your done. On my 170, I just touched up the heads and lived with it.

Pulled out the old Vestal White Imron today and added the missing cowl stripe today. It was totally bugging me... Another line item crossed off the punch list.

Tomorrow the plan is to finish up the painting with the red on the spinner backplate.

Clever treatment on the spinner. Let's get that bird out west for a visit as soon as she's flying!! Awesome work.

I'm always learning something from your awesome build; those NSP lights look like the way to go. I see you mentioned a belly pod. If you haven't settled on one; let me recommend the ones made by Bob Piatt, from Alaska. (Wasilla?).

It is a shallower copy of the Cessna pod. Less drag(in the air, and through deep snow), less cooling issues. Better looking, IMHO. It has a back door; but have never used it. 174CM skis fit in the side door. Comes off in 15 minutes for floats installation. Couldn't be happier with this pod.