iPad Mini mount - another view



Today we reinstalled the overhauled DG, and installed Whelen LED landing and taxi lights.

Rainy and cold so not touch painting yet. Panel project still underway. I now need to get the plane IFR certified, making that appointment in the morning. Looking forward to the Texas Skywagon Flyin this weekend.

My first excursion thru the West Texas brush had the 26's looking like pin cushions with all the cactus needles poking out everywhere. I decided to chase down the technology I needed to take care of putting air into the 185's tires, either from dealing with a flat or just airing up for pavement. I chose this from Jegs:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Slime/291/50001/10002/-1

I just got that same one at orielys Phil! Minus the slime. I put that Stan's or Stanley's, in my tires. The stuff bushwheels sends out. Never heard of it before but figured if they sell it it must be good..
Only about 2 months running em but no flats or even fluctuations in pressure yet. Other than temperature caused.

I decided against the stuff Bushwheels sells cause I wasn't sure it works in tubes. Skalywag has since told me it does so next time that's what I'll use. A downside to Slime is it's only good for two years, which means I'll need to change my tubes - that's when I'll change over.

Maybe we'll have ya on 29's by then.
Been missin your photos. You kind of caught up for now on her?

55wagon,

Well I'm back! Catching up on images and work. This set is for the PPonk Beef Up installation. Took us about 4 hours to do the first side and and hour to do the other - cause NOW we knew what we were doing.

The kit:


Before installation:


After installation (okay I know it's the opposite side):


Probably the most surprising thing to me is that with all the work we've done we have yet to find any corrosion. Amazing to me since she spent her first years on floats in Vancouver BC.

Extended baggage



Aft Cargo Net
I purchased this net from Mountain Wave Aviation. Very reasonable price and fits like a glove. Came with the hardware. Love it.
http://www.mountainwaveaviation.com/

Okay one last post for the day. So the major remaining interior project is the new panel. It is progressing slowly (my fault) but it is progressing. We are past the initial cad drawing phase, and received the first set of mockups. We commenced cutting and marking them and have shipped them back to SairCorp/Flight Boss Ltd.





For the bottom panel SairCorp/Flight Boss Ltd had me remove the original plastic panel and ship it to them, their primary concern is getting the bend correct. They shipped a metal template matching the original. The red tape means I don't want the holes that are under it.

The device at the top of this page, I believe is from a Glasstar(or Glassair, get them mixed up), just over the wing root, to keep the airflow attached.

Can't wait to see the finished panel, I have a 69 180 project I hope to get at one of these days. A panel like that sure look's nice. Especially like the switch panel.

Tim

What's up Phil... Any more progress lately? Maybe a photo soon of some new shoes..?
Meant to ask ya why you didn't do a firewall battery and flat ext baggage? 30lbs out and more room...

macktruckfarm, good guess and you might be right. But in my case these were part of the ATS VG's and they call the "Delta Wings" which are supposed to help with rudder authority.

Tim, yea I'm excited to get the new panel in. I'm tired of looking at my hacked up panel and using switches that are in a goofy order IMO.

Jason, final (hopefully) panel template fit on Friday. I'm hoping the new shoes come in at the same time. Had an annoying wind whistle that I fixed by making new gear leg gaskets, and relieving the gear leg cover plate where it covered rivets.

I didn't know I could make a flat floor in the extended baggage area. That would be awesome, but I would have to move the battery, and that and the new shoes might make her a bit nose heavy. Plus I'd have to replace/move the two power generating stations in the back that power the strobes and tail beacon/strobe (which I plan on doing at some point), and lay off all the folks that must work there based on how big they are.

So here is where we are with the new panel design:







Funny thing is I can't remember why I moved the starter/mag switch to the left of the Master and Fuel Pump - I must have had a good reason.

Decisions decisions decisions. What color do you think the new panel should be? Please keep in mind the actual colors of my 185 exterior and interior.

Big ass FedEx truck just rolled up into the driveway.

Christmas in June

Hell yeah Phil, Merry Christmas!!!

Nice! it s like the 26'' Goodyears didn't last long!

Bad influences cost ya money rob.

Barnstormer wrote:iPad Mini mount - another view



Today we reinstalled the overhauled DG, and installed Whelen LED landing and taxi lights.

Rainy and cold so not touch painting yet. Panel project still underway. I now need to get the plane IFR certified, making that appointment in the morning. Looking forward to the Texas Skywagon Flyin this weekend.

The thingy at the top inboard end of the wing is called a "vortilon". They are used by several STOL kits, including Boundary Layer Air. The Beaver up-gross kits use them on the Turbo Beaver as well. They supposedly "re-organize" the flow of air in a disturbed region of flow.

MTV

To be honest there are a couple of reasons I'm changing from the 26's to the 29's so quickly.

1. I loved the difference in feel, both real and imagined, when I went from the 8.50x6's to the 26's. Definately felt a big difference of turf strips, and a confidence builder off airport. And actually like the 26's better on pavement then the 8.50x6's. And I have not been able to detect any speed difference between the 8.50 and 26's, although there must be some. So perhaps if 26's are good 29's will be better.

2. When I talked with Wup shortly after buying the 185 he suggested 29's based on my mission. Of course I was obviously a bit skeptical (price and conflict of interest) so I held off.

3. Some here and over at the Skywagon club suggested 8.50's would work just fine, and 26's would be more then enough. And I'm convinced they are right, I'm also convinced they are better pilots then I. 29's hopefully will help keep me out of trouble while I'm building my skill level.

4. I was following Skalywag down a river bottom the other day and he found a sand bar he thought we might could land on. He dragged it and determined it was probably too soft. I thought how much it would suck if he landed it with his 29's and was barely able to get out, and I got stuck with my 26's. I figured if I'm going to fly around with these guys with their 29's, I'd better get the same.

5. Talked at length with Rob who has had all sizes of tires on his Wagon, and he has settled on 29's as the best.

The one thing I will miss about the 26's is how well they wear, I certainly don't have to care about landing on pavement with them. Will be interesting to see how I feel about the 29's six months from now.