Dave's Construction Logs

Dave Morris' Dragonfly Page

Construction Log

"Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" - Somebody famous

DateDuration
Hrs:Min
Task Performed
*Abbreviations below
1992
20Dec Received plans as an early Xmas present
Wife and kids go on trip!
21Dec8:00Read plans; Read all back-issues of Newsletter; Cut out errata notes and tape into plans
23Dec2:00Cut out canard lift bulkhead foam and cloth
24Dec2:00Cut out canard drag & lower seatback bulkhead foam
24Dec2:30Cut out intercostal BH, upper seatback BH, canopy BH, tailcone BH
24Dec0:45Cut out tank jig
28Dec2:00Build epoxy measuring scale
30Dec4:00Cut out and join fuselage sides, cut out all doublers
30Dec0:30Glass 1/2 intercostal BH
31Dec2:00Glass canopy BH
31Dec0:30Knife trim intercostal BH and canopy BH
31Dec2:00Lay out fuselage & mark RH inside
31Dec1:00Cut fuselage & synchronize with LH side; Sand & trim
31Dec2:00Install & shape doublers on RH inside
31Dec1:00Glue in doublers on RH inside
31Dec2:00Install & shape doublers on LH inside; Glue fwd doubler
31Dec2:00Prep canopy BH; Glass 2nd side
1993
01Jan0:30Knife trim canopy BH
01Jan1:30Attach doublers LH side fuselage; Layout fuselage bottom
01Jan2:30Cut out bottom & glue together & add doublers
01Jan1:30Glue in LH doublers
01Jan5:00Build fuel tank
02Jan3:00Knife trim tank; Fit fuselage sides; Locate tank & BH
02Jan1:00Prep fuselage bottom for glass; Add tail doubler to bottom
02Jan5:30Cut bottom cloth; Glass fuselage bottom
03Jan0:15Knife trim edges of fuselage bottom
03Jan3:00Cut glass for upper & lower seatback BH, canard drag BH; Fix intercostal BH; Cut out fuel tank baffles & cloth
03Jan2:30Glass 4 above BH; Glass tank baffles; Glass repaired intercostal BH; Make tank filler tube
04Jan6:00Cut glass, shape for glass/glass bond and glass: intercostal, tailcone, upper & lower seatback BH
04Jan1:00Knife trim all above
05Jan1:00More knife trim
07Jan3:00Glue and Glass fuel tank baffles into position in tank
08Jan4:00Trim fuel tank, fuselage bottom; Trial assembly; Fit upper & lower seatback B& around doublers; Fit fuel tank
10Jan1:00Cut out wing lift and drag BH
11Jan1:00Cut out 12 plywood inserts and glue together
13Jan1:00Trim plywood inserts & glue into bulkheads
14Jan2:00Repair tail delamination; Move air vent hole to correct location
15Jan2:00Set up longerons for lamination, glue them together, put fuselage away
16Jan4:00Split longerons; Dress to 3/4" x 3/4"; Glue to fuselage sides
16Jan0:30Change lower stringers to correct angle
16Jan1:30Patch RH fuselage side holes; Glue on tail doubler
17Jan3:00Cut out 5 layers of glass for RH fuselage inside
17Jan3:30Glass RH fuselage inside
18Jan0:30Knife trim
23Jan1:00Build 2 sawhorses with wheels
23Jan1:30Cut out 5 layers of glass for LH fuselage inside
24Jan3:00Glass LH fuselage inside
24Jan0:30Knife trim
30Jan1:30Cut glass: wing drag BH, canard lift BH; Glass front sides of those
30Jan2:00Trim BHs; Glass front of wing lift BH
31Jan2:00Cut out firewall; Knife trim wing lift BH; Cut out firewall elbows
31Jan1:00Cut glass for fuel tank outside and 3 bulkheads
31Jan2:30Glass fuel tank outside; Glass 2 bulkheads
01Feb1:00Trim & sand fuel tank outside glass
02Feb1:00Trim fuel tank, wing lift BH, canard lift BH
04Feb1:00Cut fuel filler hole, trim edges, cut tube holes
06Feb1:00Fabricate drain plug plate & tap hole
06Feb1:00Glue drain plug plate into fuselage bottom; Sand
06Feb2:00Install fuel filler neck; Flox canard lift BH
07Feb1:00Smooth & sand inside of fuel tank
08Feb1:00Shape canard drag corners to fit fuselage sides
27Feb1:15Cut & shape fuel tank tubing; Install & glass filler tube to tank
27Mar1:00Glass 2nd side wing drag BH
28Mar2:00Install fuel tank in fuselage bottom
29Mar1:00Install fuel strainer
29Mar2:00Bondo in BHs to fuselage bottom for trial fitting
30Mar1:30Fit fuselage sides to BHs
31Mar1:30Bondo in bottoms of intercostal BH, tailcone, wing lift to fuselage bottom
03Apr4:00Tape seatback BH, intercostal BH, wing lift & drag BH, tailcone BH, front & rear of tank to fuselage bottom
04Apr0:30Knife trim, make adjustments
06Apr1:00Trim BH more for left fuselage side fit
11Apr2:45Flox RH fuselage side to bottom
16Apr2:00Flox tank to RH side; Flox RH to fuselage bottom; Tape rear RH to fuselage bottom
05Sep0:30Study plans; Sweep cobwebs out of interior; Do some sanding of flox corners
09Sep1:00Tape fuselage side to tank and seatback bottom
12Oct0:30Cut out tapes for RH-to-bottom fuselage
23Oct1:00Tape LH seatback, RH fuselage side, wing lift BH to fuselage bottom
25Oct2:00Mate LH fuselage side to bottom
03Nov0:45Fit firewall to fuselage sides; Trim longeron holes
12Nov0:30Trim wing drag BH to fit LH fuselage side
11Dec0:30Bondo one half of rear turtledeck foam into mold
12Dec3:30Re-do above (didn't hold); Use string instead of Bondo; Do second half of foam also; Trim; Scab on filler pieces
13Dec2:00Cut fiberglass for rear turtledeck; Trim foam; Build new epoxy scale
1994
26Feb2:00Glass inside rear turtledeck (first use of PH3660 - good stuff!)
27Feb1:30Cut rear turtledeck out of mold; Trim threads off
27Feb0:30Sew one half of forward turtledeck foam into mold
01Mar1:00Sew second half of forward turtledeck foam into mold
03Mar2:00Glass forward turtledeck inside
05Mar1:00Trim edges; Fit fwd turtledeck to fuselage; Repair missing chunks
06Mar1:00More prep of LH fuselage side to bottom joints for later glassing
20Mar1:30Glass LH fuselage side to bottom and tank front, wing, tail
22Mar1:00Scab foam onto fuel tank to LH fuselage side joint
01May1:30Glass LH fuselage side to bottom at tank & lower seatback BH
04May2:00Extend side edges of rear turtledeck to raise it; Add 1" extension to upper seatback BH
22May0:45Seal inside of tank with flox; Flox lower seatback to wing lift BH
05Jul Got divorced
03Sep Ottawa fly-in
02Oct0:30Bondo wing lift BH and wing drag BH to LH fuselage side
08Oct1:30Glass LH fuselage side to lower seatback BH and fuselage bottom remainder
1995
18Feb1:30Build gear leg mold for hoop style gear
19Feb1:30Start over and make new gear leg mold
02Sep Ottawa fly-in
03Sep0:30Shape styrofoam in gear mold
04Sep2:15More work on gear mold
09Sep2:30Layup about half of the gear leg UNI tape fiberglass into mold
16Sep3:30Add more layers of UNI tape glass to gear
17Sep2:00Finish glassing UNI tape layers of gear
23Sep1:00Sand gear leg and prep for outer skin
27Sep0:30Attach brake line to gear leg
29Sep1:30Build foam fairing for RH brake line; Cut foam; Attach foam to gear RH side
30Sep1:30Build foam fairing for LH brake line; Cut foam; Attach foam to gear LH side
01Oct1:30Cut glass for gear bottom skin; Layup 3 layers
02Oct0:30Knife trim
04Oct1:00Sand gear leg; Shape fairings; Prep for top glass skin
11Oct0:45Glass top of RH side gear leg
18Oct1:00Inject micro into gaps in gear skin RH side
23Oct1:00Shape leading edge of gear with micro
24Oct0:45Glass top of LH side gear leg
Oct Lay hardwood floor in livingroom; Re-carpet bedroom; Re-paint entire house
1996
01Sep Ottawa fly-in
07Sep1:00Fabricate aluminum angle brackets for gear attach points inside fuselage
1997
30Aug Ottawa fly-in
11Sep1:00Cut out 7 console (armrest) foam pieces and trial fit to fuselage
11Sep0:30Cut out instrument panel foam
13Sep1:00Fill all gouges in fwd and rear turtledeck with micro
20Sep0:45Glass inside of LH and RH console parts
20Sep0:30Cut high density foam and shape into tail
20Sep0:30Glass inside of center console
20Sep0:15Micro high density tail piece into fuselage bottom & sides
21Sep0:30Glue together center console parts
21Sep1:00Glue together LH and RH console parts
21Sep2:00Shape & glass outside of consoles
22Sep0:30Knife trim consoles
11Oct6:00Cut out tail fin templates; Hot wire cut out tail (Kathleen assisting)
12Oct1:30Re-cut trailing 1/2 of tail fin to fix problem of incorrect tube cutout in first attempt
16Oct2:00Glass tail fin shear web
19Oct2:00Tail foam inserts; Fin bottom fuselage insert; Contour shaping
20Oct0:30Glass RH side tail fin carbon spar
23Oct3:00Glass LH side carbon spar & skin LH side tail fin
27Oct0:30Knife trim LH side tail fin
05Nov1:00Cut glass for RH side tail fin skin; Prep core
07Nov2:00Glass RH side tail fin
07Nov0:30Try to cut rudder hinges with hacksaw; Give up
15Nov1:15Glass RH side rudder
16Nov0:30Knife trim; Cleanup; Trim RH rudder
16Nov4:00Cut out all wing lift fittings and inserts, rudder hinges (using diamond cutting wheel)
16Nov0:30Repair leading edge of rudder with flox and micro
17Nov1:30Glass LH side rudder
18Nov0:30Knife trim rudder; Fit to fin for hinges
19Nov2:00Cut all holes in rudder hinges
23Nov2:00Sand round trailing edge of fin; Glass-glass bond trailing edge
23Nov1:00Knife trim, shape, smooth, sand
29Nov2:00Fit tail fin to fuselage; Drill hole in tailcone BH for pitot tube; Cut out top rudder hinge access hole in rudder tube
29Nov0:30Experiment with West 410 Microlight & Aeropoxy as filler on gear leg RH side
30Nov0:30Sand RH gear leg filler
30Nov1:00Fill in groves on RH gear leg filler; Filler RH rudder side w/410 & Aeropoxy
02Dec0:45Sand RH rudder and LH gear leg
06Dec0:15Fill in grooves in LH gear leg and RH rudder
10Dec2:00Sand high density foam in tail; Glass the tail rod & embed into tail; Cover with glass layers
11Dec0:15Knife trim tail rod
12Dec1:15Split center console, remove 1/2", repair w/glass tape, flox, micro
18Dec1:00Study plans re: rudder hinges
21Dec1:30Install upper rudder hinge; Rivet in place; Cut upper slot into HD foam; Flox upper hinge arm into slot
22Dec2:00Drill rudder horn reducer; Cut upper slot into HD foam; Flox lower hinge arm into slot
27Dec2:30Trim lower rudder to fit tailspring; Epoxy 2 MS-21047-3 nuts onto wood block and epoxy block into rudder to match with AN3-10 bolts thru rudder horn arm
28Dec2:00Make rudder cap from foam; Cut out plywood rudder cap rib; Shape foam, plywood, rudder into smooth piece; Epoxy 7oz lead shot into rudder cap; Glue cap onto plywood rib
28Dec0:45Glass rudder cap onto rudder
30Dec0:30Repair rudder cap delaminations and air pockets around plywood rib and leading edge
1998
01Jan0:30Cut out phenolic rudder bearing, drill 1/2" hole and attach to tailspring with 5 min epoxy
04Jan1:30Add glass to 2 repair spots on rudder cap; Add flox corners and glass tail fin top; Glass side of tail fin cap with pitot angle tube installed
08Jan1:30Glass remainder of tail fin cap top and bottom; Flox rudder bearing onto tailspring; Apply West 410 to tail fin LH side bottom portion with groved trowel; Fill in groves on upper portion
11Jan2:00Fill in groves on LH tail fin lower portion with West 410; Sand upper portion smooth; Glass rear of tail fin cap
14Jan1:00Sand and fill depressions in LH tail fin some more; Fill some more on RH rudder
15Jan1:00Sand LH tail fin more; Sand RH rudder more
18Jan1:00Sand LH tail; Trial fit tail on fuselage
25Jan1:30Cut vertical bar out of upper seatback BH; Add carbon fiber around curved section; Add layer of cloth; Glass on 1" extension; Add layer of cloth & peel ply to center console top
26Jan0:45Trowel 410 Microlite on tail RH and rudder LH
22Mar1:45Sand tail RH & add filler to grooves; Trowel filler on remainder of rudder LH
29Mar1:30Sand tail RH & fill pinholes and depressions; Sand rudder LH & add filler to grooves
06May5 daysDrive to Camarillo and buy Nate Rambo's wing and canopy and some other odds and ends. Bring wing back strapped to roof of van
18May2:00Trial fit Nate's wing to fuselage; Trim rear turtledeck wing cutouts to match wing contour
24May1:00Fabricate CS-13 phenolic bearing
25May1:00Re-fabricate CS-13 bearing (made first one too large); Fabricate CS-14 and CS-15 bearings and trial fit to bulkheads
28May1:00Shape RH fuselage to bottom edge
29May1:00Shape RH fuselage to bottom edge; Shape forward turtledeck to forward RH and LH fuselage
30May2:00Finish shaping RH and LH fuselage bottom edge
30May3:00Glass fuselage bottom
30May0:15Knife trim
31May1:00Cut forward turtledeck to match canopy; Remove old canopy hardware and trim forward cover to fit
01Jun2:00Study plans and newsletters regarding instrument panel, forward bulkhead, canopy, transverse header tank
02Jun2:00Cut forward cover to match canopy; Remove old canopy hardware
03Jun1:00Glass aft face of forward bulkhead
05Jun1:00Cut out and glass one face of canopy hinge arms with 2 plies 10oz
07Jun0:30Glass other side of hinge arms with 2 plies 10oz + 1 ply each end + 1 ply on straight section
20Jun1:30Flox edges of canopy hinge arms, wrap one hinge with 1 ply 6oz
1:00Cut, shape, and micro 1 hat section stiffener in place
21Jun1:00Glass hat section stiffener in place; Wrap 2nd canopy hinge arm with 1 ply 6oz
1:30Drill hole in rear console phenolic bearing to fit Azusa wheel bearing and 10min epoxy both phenolic bearings in place in center console; Knife trim 2nd canopy hinge arm
22Jun1:00Cut and drill forward aileron torque tube; Glass phenolic bearings in place in center console
23Jun1:30Sand fiberglass off phenolic bearing faces around hole; Drill holes and install all tubing in console
30Jun2:00Tear apart Thrustmaster joystick; Drill and cut 1/2" .035 4130 tube and assemble with joystick grip
04Jul1:00Cut aluminum tubing for control stick inside clamp; Sand old tailwheel fiberglass stinger paint off
1:30Glass upper seatback BH aft face using tapes, flox, foam
13Jul3:00Cut instrument panel holes; Cut legs off panel, shape and glass them
15Jul1:00Glass fwd face of instrument panel & peel ply
16Jul1:30Sand edges of Fwd BH, RH console; Tack RH console and RH/LH instrument panel legs to fuselage with 5 min epoxy
1:30Tape-glass upper seatback BH fwd face; Flox and tape-glass RH console into place
21Jul2:00Adjust fit of Fwd turtledeck; Trim and glass it
22Jul0:30Knife trim Fwd turtledeck; Sand interior of cockpit and eliminate snags
2:30Fit Fwd BH to fuselage sides & Fwd cover; Trial-fit header tank to Fwd BH with screws
25Jul1:30Drill control stick outer tube and install completed stick in console
3:00Cut out new roll bar foam (behind Seatback BH) and put on 1st layer of 10oz bid; Attach roll bar to Seatback BH
0:30Cut out and lay up 2nd layer 6oz on roll bar
26Jul1:00Trim aft fuselage cover to fit roll bar
1:30Flox Fwd BH in place on RH side
1:15Cut canopy hinges to fit Fwd BH and place wood insert into one
2:00Glass canopy hinges to canopy with flox and 10oz and 6oz bid
27Jul0:30Knife trim hinges; Test placement on Fwd BH
28Jul3:00Attach struts and glass Fwd BH to fuselage side with 2 layers 10oz
03Aug0:30Attach hinges to brackets
08Aug2:30Re-drill hinge arm pivot bearing holes and re-mount canopy; Cut canopy BH, removing entire center section
10Aug1:00Move RH lift strut back a few inches to clear Fwd cover
(I have done a bunch of work, but have not yet updated this online log)
2000
Nov0:30Moved entire project into a hangar at McKinney, Texas (TKI)
(I have done a bunch of work, but have not yet updated this online log
*Abbreviations:
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