Pappy's LEXL Build in Texas

[pappyadkins]

Good afternoon Rick... I'm glad you're getting at least a few good tips from the videos, that's why I began them... I'm also glad you're on this forum... if you go to 'member map' in the top bar & zoom in you can get a start of other members in your aera (I attached a pix of what I just found)... You can send messages to them via this forum (I have ran into some that are no longer active or VERY delayed in response)  Also I'd join the 'Legal Eagle Ultralight' Facebook group & ask there if anyone is near you... And finally, I'd try & find an EAA chapter near ya - even if there's no LE guys in the group, you'll still get great insite... And always feel free to reach out to me...

[Rick]

Thank you Pappy! This forum is great . . . looks like I should start exploring it more.  I'll reach out the the PA folks when ready.

I am a new EAA member and there is a local near by with one builder. Thanks.

[pappyadkins]

Happy 4th!  Today, let's discuss a couple of options about navigating our Legal Eagles... 

[Brock]

I noticed a Quadlock mount in one of your pictures.  That is what I use.  They also have a vibration dampner mount for motorcycles.  Someone wrote someplace that vibration can damage your camera, so I use the dampner.  Also since I fly certified aircraft and use ADS-b, the software I settled on is 'iFly EFB'.  Not free but does most everything a pilot may want yet can be simple too.

My plans are to fly the Sportsman 2+0 (used to be 2+2 but I removed the back seats) from KPDX area to KOSH.  See you there.

[pappyadkins]

Let's stay motivated & finish up our LE's

[Brock]

Thanks for posting your Oshkosh video!
My plane was all packed and ready to fly there but we didn't like the midwest weather.  Well perhaps next year.

[pappyadkins]

I hope y'all have a great day!!!

[pappyadkins]

Happy Friday (the 13th)... So sorry for the delays, but we're hopefully back at it... Today, let's see dive into my fuel tank build or builds (we'll see if my crazy ideas work or not!)

[Tom H]

My first attempt at making a tank for LEU TreeHugger was by making a core from polyester foam, covered in clear packing tape.  I used vinylester resin and fiberglass cloth.  The vinylester resin fumes apparently permeated the packing tape and started to attack the foam, which ruined that attempt.  Next, I used urethane foam, vinylester, FG cloth.  I troweled silicon caulk over the foam, with the experience that nothing sticks to silicon caulk.  That worked, but it was a chore to get the foam out of the cured fiberglass tank. That tank worked, but we found "gunk" in the carb, thinking it was from the tank.  Later we think the gunk was from tube fitting sealant. Anyway, I made a welded aluminum tank, which has proven to work great.  I don't have the numbers with me, but the FG tank was only a couple ounces heavier than the alum tank.  Here is a pic of the foam being removed from the FG tank.
Pappy, I think your approach will work just fine.  I don't think cardboard will be affected by vinylester fumes, if they get through the tape.  And, I like your idea of putting the tank in the center section.

[Kamcoman77]

In your video you showed some plain weave fiberglass cloth. I had difficulty getting it to fit around the rounded corners of my Divinycell/FG tank. I found that the Rutan 7725 bi-directional weave cloth from Aircraft Spruce worked much better. Something to think about.

[Tom H]

It is my understanding that vinylester resin is good for auto fuel with ethanol.  Epoxy resin is good for av-gas, but does not hold up as well when used with auto fuel and ethanol.
Chuck in Indiana, what fuel do you use?

[Kamcoman77]

Great point about VE. That is also my understanding. My tank interior is covered with two coats of vinyl-ester resin and a VE resin/flox mix to fillet all the inside corners. I did not cover the inside with FG cloth since the Divinycell foam is very strong and only needed an outside layer of FG. Since the tank was already sealed, I used epoxy on the exterior because I had some laminating resin from a boat project. I found epoxy more forgiving when applying the FG cloth because of a more predictable working time.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It is my understanding that vinylester resin is good for auto fuel with ethanol.  Epoxy resin is good for av-gas, but does not hold up as well when used with auto fuel and ethanol.
Chuck in Indiana, what fuel do you use?

I was using 100LL but had a sticking valve problem. Shortly after, Verner said to only use automotive fuel for that reason, so I've been running mogas with alcohol. Of course, I have an aluminum tank  so it's a non issue for me.