Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I agree Cubes, that's partly why I asked. I don't want anyone to have to go through that again for an incorrect cut on my part. So, I'm leaning towards mounting the center section in order to get a good measurement. As an aside, why are the ends of the push/pull tube cut back at an angle? I'm guessing its a clearance issue somewhere after installation.

I feel like I'm about ready to pull it out of the garage and go fly!

Nice! The ends are cut back so you can get a bucking bar in to rivet.
Cubes

Dont tell me im going to have to take the vert fin off so I can stick the push pull tube through that little lightening hole on that rear bulkhead? I just got the emp group installed. I am not missing the obvious/easy way to get it in there am I? The front windscreen is installed so it wont fit through the cockpit, and I can get it in from up underneath through the removable floorboard.

Yup, That's the only way to get the push/pull tube back in the fuselage. I'm making an installation order for 218TH to make sure I don't have to undo something because it wasn't the right step. Not likely you can get it in from removable floorboards. it would have to make a sharp hook around the 601 assembly to fit through the tunnels. Rudder and vertical fin aren't that tough to pull off.
T

I think I ran into that same bailewick with mine during the build process . Terry is right, not a big deal to remove the fin & rudder .

RB

Ok. I won't tell you that Terry is right...
Cubes

well, after much removal of parts, cussing, fussing, and crawling back and forth into and out of that dang rear fuselage I figured out the dimensions called out in the plans for the length of the push pull tube are.............correct. I laughed out loud when I put the tape measure to it and saw the measurement. After I went through all that, the measurement came out accurate to plans. Glad I did it though. Merry Christmas!

Is there a reference guide available that will show what the max up and down deflection should be of the horizontal tail? Just want to try and make sure I address this while I'm still working in the tail section.

The -519 drawing shows the pitch control stops for the walking beam assembly and the -510 drawing shows the pivot point and control horn for the stabilator. You'll need to do a little math that involves some trig to get the deflections of the stabilator, shouldn't be too hard.

_________________
Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

Thanks Bruce, I did overlook the 15 degree deflection as noted on drawing -519. Uh oh, math and trigonometry.....what did I get myself into.

521 shows the max deflections and has the anti servo tab deflections as well. That the drawing you use to set everything up back there. Oh by the way, those max trim deflections include cockpit trim.
Cubes

If anyone has any tips about cutting/fitting/installing the canopy skirt, I would be all ears. Or if you did a write up anywhere, I would like to read it. I am leaning towards installing the canopy with sika, not that it should affect installing the skirt.

I used large sheets of poster board . Cut them into EXTRA wide strips taped them together and then fine tuned them to the size (width) I wanted . Takes a lot of poster board as it is a compound curve , just like the windscreen roll bar/canopy roll bar strips . Take your time and it will turn out great !!

RB

What Rich said!

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL