Old Pilot, New Builder

[aferddaberts]

Hello, my name is Mud, no really it's AL. Al Roberts, but it may be Mud if I don't finish my build [Waiex] after convincing my wife it's a good idea. Anyway, I live in North Las Vegas, NV. I received the Tail Kit on January 23. I have a long way to go, but so far [ one ruddervator almost completed,
(waiting for an order of more clecos to arrive)} I am enthusiastically committed to the task. :)
I am a member of Chapter 163 EAA.

Thanks for listening AL

[LarryEWaiex121]

Welcome Al,

A short list of don't do's based on my build.
1. Don't rivet the front fuselage sides and angle until your done with the Tunnel assembly. Study the plans and you'll see that all the seat support area and angles need to come out to finish the tunnel work.
2. Be extra careful to keep your surfaces straight before you drill. I have one left ruddavator if you need one with a little twist!
3. When drilling wings its important to keep in mind the taper on the fuselage. It is ridiculously easy to get yourself into a pickle and have to redo something. Like the blocks on the end of the spars. Lots of hands, tons or measure and drill carefully.
4. For all the concern about the hockey sticks I found the matter fairly straightforward and not much of a concern. My hockey sticks matched up fine and in the correct plane to bolt up solid.
5. When drilling the axles to gear legs; project out your lines from the wheels accurately mounted on the axles. I measured and used the shims provided and drilled. I ended up with a right wheel that was either too straight or slightly toed out. Right tire lasted about 80 hrs. Re-drilled the axle and now my tires are lasting over 150 hrs. Yes, there is a procedure to fix the wrongly drilled hole in the axle. Just try and get it right the first time.
6. Do yourself a favor and build hydraulic brakes right from the start. I have mechanicals and they grip really well. The issue is slow speed braking. Even with the machined drums I get slow speed shake from uneven surfaces. Seems the hydraulics eliminate most of the issues guys have with the mechanical. Had they been available when I was building they would have gone on from the start.
Just take your time and understand the plans. Measure twice before you cut! Just remember that what ever you spend on the plane is going to be 15% shipping and handling and you can't see a dime of it on the finished product.

Larry

[Rynoth]

Hi Al, be sure to check out the "Waiex Plans" section of the website each time you're starting a new plans page, sometimes there are some good tips or gotchas that we've documented there. Here's a link: viewforum.php?f=42

There are also lots of great builder blogs out there with good information. I invite you to check out mine, there's a link in my signature below.

[Bryan Cotton]

Welcome to the group Al! Always good to see another fork-tailed devil join us. In addition to what Ryan said, check out the Sonex Plans forum as well as the Waiex plans. Forward of the tail a lot is common.

My thread:
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=578

[DCASonex]

Add to that, the files in the old but still active sonexbuilders Yahoo forum, and the American Sonex Association (ASA) web sites.

David A.

[dtwolcott]

Welcome Al
I am an old fart, new pilot and new builder building a Waiex. I guess I needed a new challenge in my life and decided it would be safer having a plane be my mistress. :lol:
Good luck in your build.
Don
Waiex 132