Lockhaven Yellow...

Exciting! Fun to watch the progress.
Mark J

Thanks Mark. Lots of learning going on.

Like the color

Thanks. Due to the total sum of my paint spraying experience being 2 tractors, a pickup truck, and various onion harvest machinery (albeit 25 years ago), I drew the short lot and got to suit up. Didn't get any runs but I did get a few light spots. This paint is really glossy and shows every little mistake. I am not complaining but now being a little wiser I would pick a brand next time that's not quite so slick. So, yesterday was spent color sanding and will spray the final topcoat today. Then the 24 hour wait for stripes...hope my fine line tape gets here!

Out of paint for now. Still short a stripe but the ol boys are getting restless so that will come later.

Progress on the firewall.



Flight controls. Flap handle is being made ready for installation and tail feathers going on today if we can figure out how to balance the elevators correctly.

A farmer and a civil engineer seem to be able to get quite a bit if work done in a day. Still lots of painting to do.

Looking great! Getting paint on is always so rewarding.

Keep up the good work!

That oil tank mounting looks a little low. It should be raised to almost touching the top motor mount. Also, it needs to be rotated a little.
see here:
http://www.flyingfoxservices.com/Flying ... _FSDO.html
Also, I have a lot of pics posted on my build, maybe you will find some useful. They are here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10288596 ... O2qwuvc9gE
and some later pics here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10288596 ... 9O28h_WsbQ
Pete

Fun stuff, and a great way to get through the winter!

I never thought my Daytona White painted air frame reflected in the windshield, until I shot my first video. THEN, I noticed many use a flat black paint there, I'm talking the two struts right behind the windshield that run to the firewall. I still haven't painted them black but wish I would have.

The balanced controls on the S-7 are a nice touch, pun intended. I didn't worry about flutter before when I didn't have them, and now I for sure don't worry about it.

There are lot's of place where things can be lightened up, a uni-bit is your best friend for this. That the factory doesn't bother doesn't mean it can't be safely done....one place in particular that so far I seem to be the only S-7 pilot who bothered : those thick aluminum flat bars meant to serve for a place to put your feet when you work the rudders, mine are all drilled out/lighter and work just fine. Another place, as an example: the 4130 brake formed standoffs/brackets that serve to support the skylight windshield area, no need to keep them as is, just dead weight. Many more places once you start looking! One more: the gusset at the base of the rudder post. No big deal if you don't bother, but just wanted to throw that option to save a little weight out there.

pouellette wrote:That oil tank mounting looks a little low. It should be raised to almost touching the top motor mount. Also, it needs to be rotated a little.
see here:
http://www.flyingfoxservices.com/Flying ... _FSDO.html
Also, I have a lot of pics posted on my build, maybe you will find some useful. They are here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10288596 ... O2qwuvc9gE
and some later pics here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10288596 ... 9O28h_WsbQ
Pete

That's a great series of pictures. Thanks for posting that.

One more tidbit....if you plan on putting a preheater on the oil tank, might be easier to install it now when you have the room. Maybe easier putting it on the newer models but it sure was a bit of a tight squeeze putting it on my oil tank, an early model short tail S7.

Thanks for the photos and tips. Most helpful.

gb,
Not sure if you subscribe to the RANS S7 group on yahoo or visit the RANSCLAN but these two are good places to get more tips and info. The Yahoo group in particular has some very knowledgable guys that have been S7 builders/flyers since the beginning of time.

Thanks WW. I think my dad is on Ransclan. I am not sure about the Yahoo group. I will ask him.

Didn't get the final pic on the camera yet but that engine is bolted on now. We were preparing for the worst but it wasn't a big deal with a few extra sets of hands.

Did you have to remove the water pump outlet and re position the outlet tubes to fit thru the ring mount? I had that pump manifold on and off at least 6 times before I got it in the right location. Hadda order a new gasket. What a pain.
Pete

Yes I did. Your tip about the oil tank was spot on also. Struggled with the routing of the sump to tank hose to stay away from exhaust pipes. Finally had Jamie take a picture of their factory built. Rans could really help a guy out with some photos in the build manual but seems like there's a lot of stuff online thanks to people like you!

We are pretty well wrapped up firewall forward except for the wiring. Boot cowl on today and messing around with Milloway's panel and glare shield. Building a plywood template before we start cutting.

Plugging away.

Great build so far, and I really like the yellow. Red or yellow are two of my favorite color choices

Have you decided on avionics? Are you going to go heavy or light on that? As of February 2014, lots of really cool options out now. For example, the new Samsung tablet line of Pro Series 8,10, and 12 inch android tablets with 64 inboard and 64 DC card capacity for a total of 128GB of memory. Combine that with say anywheremap from controlvision http://store.controlvision.com/ and you have some cool ..cheap..avionics capability. I'm not pimping for anyone...just I was thinking on how to keep weight and costs down.

Keep posting pics ok...again great build