Weight saving exercise.

How did you get to this point in the first place, maybe based on that
we can make some suggestion. Was the design overweight by design or
was it over built? How close is the empty weight to that of the
prototype?

egroups.com:

How did you get to this point in the first place, maybe based on that
we can make some suggestion. Was the design overweight by design or
was it over built? How close is the empty weight to that of the
prototype?

I'm in the early stages and am trying to avoid some of the pitfalss of the
first time builder. So far, I'm doing well. The ribs (truss) are as light
as feathers with barely enough spare glue sticking out of the gussets to
show they're covered. My welds are good, so I won't be carrying around 50
lbs of extra rod when it's done, I hope, and I'm dodging all the popular
mods and sticking pretty much to plans. There's nothing wrong with the
design (Hatz), but I'm not going to overpower it and my local strip is only
500 yard long, with obstacles, so I just want to stay "ahead of the power
curve" from day one in every way possible. After all, I'm not going to be
able tocut things out so easily after it's finished! Previous builders
usually wind up with empty weights of about 950lbs, but it's possible to
build it as light as 860, so I'm going to shoot low.
got some good ideas here, too. I'm thinking the composite tank is probably
not the way to go now, so I'm going to have to learn to build an aluminum
tank..

Anyone know of a resource to show me how?

"Fortunat1" wrote in message

. . . so I'm going to have to learn to build an aluminum
tank..

Anyone know of a resource to show me how?

The books by Tony Bingelis have excellent tips on this.
http://www.amtbooks.com/sport_plane_...on_techniq.htm

Rich Shankland

"Rich S." sednews:_fydnZvUOMpYONnfRVn-
:

"Fortunat1" wrote in message

. . . so I'm going to have to learn to build an aluminum
tank..

Anyone know of a resource to show me how?

The books by Tony Bingelis have excellent tips on this.
http://www.amtbooks.com/sport_plane_...on_techniq.htm


Mm, have all of his books and I don't remember seeing an article about ali
tank construction, but I did find this article from SA on the net..
http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuil...About%20An%20A
luminum%20Fuel%20Tank_.html

I would check with a Van's builder. RVs have aluminum riveted tanks with
pro-seal. If you know a good tig welder, then a welded tank can be built.


"Fortunat1" wrote in message ...
"Rich S." sednews:_fydnZvUOMpYONnfRVn-
:

"Fortunat1" wrote in message

. . . so I'm going to have to learn to build an aluminum
tank..

Anyone know of a resource to show me how?

The books by Tony Bingelis have excellent tips on this.
http://www.amtbooks.com/sport_plane_...on_techniq.htm


Mm, have all of his books and I don't remember seeing an article about
ali
tank construction, but I did find this article from SA on the net..
http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuil...About%20An%20A
luminum%20Fuel%20Tank_.html

"Cy Galley" sednews:4V41e.103754$r55.32258@attbi_s52:

I would check with a Van's builder. RVs have aluminum riveted tanks
with pro-seal. If you know a good tig welder, then a welded tank can
be built.


OK, thanks.There are two down the road from me, in fact! I'll probably try
and weld it myself, though I've never welded aluminum before. Then again,
most ofthe things I've done on this contraption I've never done before.
I'm assuming baffles (and I think I'd need them in a long shallow wing
tank) aren't welded, though. I'm supposing that the tank would be
assembled, but the back left open until the baffles are all riveted, and
then closed up and welded?

Fortunat1 wrote:
"Cy Galley" sednews:4V41e.103754$r55.32258@attbi_s52:


I would check with a Van's builder. RVs have aluminum riveted tanks
with pro-seal. If you know a good tig welder, then a welded tank can
be built.



OK, thanks.There are two down the road from me, in fact! I'll probably try
and weld it myself, though I've never welded aluminum before. Then again,
most ofthe things I've done on this contraption I've never done before.
I'm assuming baffles (and I think I'd need them in a long shallow wing
tank) aren't welded, though. I'm supposing that the tank would be
assembled, but the back left open until the baffles are all riveted, and
then closed up and welded?

I see no reason not to weld the baffles as well. Probably less messy
than sealing the rivets.

Matt

Having just finished the tanks for my RV-7, I agree with Cy. If you're
in the USA, call Van's A/C & get the name of a builder near you & go
look at the plans for the tank/leading edge to get an idea of how they
go together.

If you can handle cutting & fitting the aluminum, the rest is pretty
simple & you can build with a drill & a cheap 'pop' rivet tool using
closed end pulled rivets. AD41H aluminum body steel mandrel is what's
used to attach the back baffle to the ribs. You'll need at least a
couple of internal ribs to stiffen the 2x4 foot top & bottom panels.

The hardest thing will be bending up the 'box' but a good sheet metal
shop can do that for you. (Be sure to tell them to use the proper radius
on the bends.)

You will be amazed at how light it will be.

Charlie

Cy Galley wrote:
I would check with a Van's builder. RVs have aluminum riveted tanks with
pro-seal. If you know a good tig welder, then a welded tank can be built.


"Fortunat1" wrote in message ...

"Rich S." sednews:_fydnZvUOMpYONnfRVn-
:


"Fortunat1" wrote in message


. . . so I'm going to have to learn to build an aluminum
tank..

Anyone know of a resource to show me how?

The books by Tony Bingelis have excellent tips on this.
http://www.amtbooks.com/sport_plane_...on_techniq.htm


Mm, have all of his books and I don't remember seeing an article about
ali
tank construction, but I did find this article from SA on the net..
http://members.eaa.org/home/homebuil...About%20An%20A
luminum%20Fuel%20Tank_.html