Gear Leg Fairings

[MichaelFarley56]

If anyone has got to the point of fitting the main landing gear fairings, I have a quick question. I made my set over the last few evenings, following the plans. For my standard gear airplane that meant starting with a 10" by 25" piece of 0.025, cutting as directed, and then installed the hinges. Overall it was a pretty easy process but as I tried to fit them tonight it would appear that the 25" is way too long for a fit.

So, for anyone that's fit the gear leg fairings, did you have to trim off the ends of the fairings? Any idea how much needs to be trimmed?

Thanks!

[N111YX]

Mike, you have run into "major plans inaccuracy #5". The plans-version dimensions are about three inches too long. That's kind of OK because you will be trimming to to fit your airframe. I cannot explain why they have you make them so long.

Now is also the time to incorporate a two-pin system to hold the fairing on. If you think about it, it's nearly impossible to single-handedly install the fairings with the wings on (major plans inaccuracy#6?) because the pin needs to be inserted from the cabin while the fairing is held on outside. And, the fairings need to come off every time with the cowl because of the close fit. Use two pins, originating in the middle of the fairing. If I were home I would send pics. Better yet, come to Crossville to take a look...:)

Note: I really did not number all of the plans inaccuracies so I don't have a list. Since I have so much time on the trip I am on, perhaps I will try to make a list later...:)

[MichaelFarley56]

Thanks Kip...I sort of figured that would be the case. And yes, the two pin procedure is probably much easier and makes things a one person job. Do you remember how many "lugs" you had to cut off to make it work?

Have a safe trip over there! :D

[N111YX]

Mike, it was two or three lugs.

[MichaelFarley56]

Thanks Kip...I ended up cutting off three lugs and it worked great. I'm now on the road until Friday but hoping to work on fitting those leg fairings some this weekend.

Safe travels coming back home!

[142YX]

I would be very interested in the "list" of innacuracies as well

[tomwasser]

Color me stupid. Spent most of yesterday precisely making standard gear fairings and hinges. My friend A&P stopped by and immediately noticed too long to fit. I plowed along finishing fairings thinking "stick to plans." Don't have internet at my hanger so was not until last night that I noticed that the length is wrong.
Where are the "plan inaccuracies" to which the net refers? Thanks, all.

[984dm]

I am in no way an expert on any of this, nor do I want to imply anything negative about the plans at all, but the set of gear leg fairings I made seemed to turn out fairly nice. My plane is not flying yet, so final fitting on everything hasn't occurred, but it seems like the fairings should work just fine. All I did was buy some poster board, cut it to the rough size, then kept trimming until I got the exact shape, length, etc. that I wanted. I then transferred the poster board pattern to the aluminum. I used the plans to determine placement of the hinge halves. I also made two hinge pins for ease of installing the fairings. If you want to see pictures, please respond to my email address and I'll send some.

Dave
Sonex 984DM (in progress)
davidmisner56@gmail.com

[mike.smith]

I am in no way an expert on any of this, nor do I want to imply anything negative about the plans at all, but the set of gear leg fairings I made seemed to turn out fairly nice. My plane is not flying yet, so final fitting on everything hasn't occurred, but it seems like the fairings should work just fine. All I did was buy some poster board, cut it to the rough size, then kept trimming until I got the exact shape, length, etc. that I wanted. I then transferred the poster board pattern to the aluminum. I used the plans to determine placement of the hinge halves. I also made two hinge pins for ease of installing the fairings. If you want to see pictures, please respond to my email address and I'll send some.

The plans fairings ARE too long, but if you are making fairings while you have only a fuselage, they will be even worse once the airplane is complete. The weight of a finished airplane will completely change the gear leg geometry. I know from experience :-)

[mike.smith]

So, for anyone that's fit the gear leg fairings, did you have to trim off the ends of the fairings? Any idea how much needs to be trimmed?

Yes, absolutely:
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l ... 272&row=31

http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l ... 551&row=30
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l ... 552&row=29