N83TZ

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Here's one issue that I hadn't considered until it came up on a Zenith discussion group: Do I need to paint steel parts that no one will see, like push-pull tubes for flight controls? Surely bare steel will rust, but do I need to go to town on paint or powder coat, or will a simpler solution work? Painted, left; WD-40, center; control, right....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/08/23/to-paint-or-not-to-paint/

To paint or not to paint Science will help me know how I should prevent rust on steel bits inside the plane that no one will see? Here’s my experiment.

I'm pretty notorious for being sloppy with my workshop. Notorious, at best. I guess I'm my father's son. Dad is a metalworking artisan, and even though tools were apparently randomly arranged on his workbench, he never had trouble finding what he needed when he needed it. On the other hand, I would spend more time looking for tools than using them....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/07/30/building-an-airplane-workshop-how-at-long-last-i-got-organized/

Building an airplane workshop: How at long last I got organized I’m pretty notorious for being sloppy with my workshop. Notorious, at best. I guess I’m my father’s son. Dad is a metalworking artisan, and even though tools were apparently rando…

The basics-of-machining class ended today, and I had a chance to do some work on a lathe. Renton Tech has a lot of equipment that dates back to its start as a training center for Boeing's B-29 plant in Renton. The lathe I worked on was some of that gear. Logo Who needs an electronic lathe when we have levers? …...

http://deanbetz.com/2021/06/09/traveling-back-in-machine-shop-time/

Traveling back in machine-shop time The basics-of-machining class ended today, and I had a chance to do some work on a lathe. Renton Tech has a lot of equipment that dates back to its start as a training center for Boeing’s B-2…

A truck showed up last week and dropped off a big box of parts for the empennage. This week I'm getting the garage prepped for storing parts and the finished product I'll be assembling in the aviation workshop at Renton Technical College.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/06/06/new-parts/

New parts A truck showed up last week and dropped off a big box of parts for the empennage. This week I’m getting the garage prepped for storing parts and the finished product I’ll be assembling …

I sometimes spend time I should be pulling rivets thinking about the appearance of the final product. Here's the latest concept, a military/not-military design of the Cascadian Air Patrol. It's not apparent from the illustration that design would use decals on polished aluminum.
http://deanbetz.com/2021/06/06/playing-with-the-look/

Playing with the look I sometime spend time I should be using to pull rivets thinking about the appearance of the final product. Here’s the latest concept, a military/not-military design of the Cascadian Air Patro…

A nearby Cruzer builder recommends videos of builders and their projects in progress. I'm turning into a YouTube ju**ie. Scott Matthews

http://deanbetz.com/2021/06/05/now-following/

Now following A nearby Cruzer builder recommends videos of builders and their projects in progress. I’m turning into a YouTube ju**ie. Scott Matthews

There’s a brief but useful piece in this month’s Sport Aviation (p. 102) with tips on securing engine compartment wiring with zip ties. I had never heard of GripLockTies, designed specifically for use with electrical wiring. Noted for future reference.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/31/zipties-duct-tape-and-wire-hangers/

Zipties, duct tape and wire hangers There’s a brief but useful piece in this month’s Sport Aviation (p. 102) with tips on securing engine compartment wiring with zip ties. I had never heard of GripLockTies, designed specifically for …

I'm driving only blind rivets, which means they're inserted into a hole, then pulled into shape using a tool on one side of the rivets -- commonly called a "pop" rivet. On the way to looking up something else, this excellent old-school instructional showed up on how to drive a countersunk rivet. Watching it, I wonder how any homebuilder ever had the time to countersink their rivets.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/28/speaking-of-which-the-four-methods-of-countersinking/

Speaking of which, the four methods of countersinking I’m driving only blind rivets, which means they’re inserted into a hole, then pulled into shape using a tool on one side of the rivets — commonly called a “pop” rivet.…

Work progressed so quickly this week that I barely had time to take photos. All of the pieces are now firmly attached, and all but a half-dozen or so holes are still waiting for rivets. I spent a fair amount of time drilling out rivets in a few spots where I prematurely went to town along the rivet line for the piano hinge, which I'm attaching in the photo....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/21/rudder-is-riveted-mostly/

Rudder is riveted. Mostly. I recover from some earlier missteps and BUY MORE TOOLS.

I found the family clecos while looking for something else in the garage.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/15/history/

History I found the family clecos while looking for something else in the garage.

The project as of 1 p.m. Thursday. It's about half-way there. I had a busy week on the rudder. The skeleton went together quickly last week, with all mating surfaces coated with an anti-corrosion film (Cortec) and the bits reassembled for riveting. Mating surfaces coated with Cortec and reassembled. Two views of the assembled skeleton (it's upside down). Two views of the assembled skeleton (it's upside down)....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/14/its-time-to-pull-some-rivets-and-make-a-few-mistakes/

It’s time to pull some rivets. And make a few mistakes. Assembling an airplane rudder is a great learning experience. Even if you make a few errors, easily correctable.

I had my last lesson before the checkride today, and the instructor and I agreed that I'm not there yet. It's not that I can't perform the maneuvers -- I'm quite adept at handling an airplane -- it's assembling them in the right order with the right formalities that remains a bit of a pickle. I've schedule three lessons before the next opportunity for the checkride, and will be working like mad to align my abilities to match the checklist....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/10/the-un-checkride/

The un-checkride I had my last lesson before the checkride today, and the instructor and I agreed that I’m not there yet. It’s not that I can’t perform the maneuvers — I’m quite adept …

Clecos on pararade I finally broke the seal today and started assembling the rudder from the pre-drilled kit. It was a slow start, as I needed to get up to speed with the Renton Technical College instructor whose shop I have the pleasure of using as I toy with the idea of building a plane. As you'd expect from a shop that prepares Boeing assemblers, it has all of the tools I'll need -- pneumatic drills and rivet pullers; air chucks at every workstation; all of the right drill bits, tool chests full of files, fussy little clamps, deburring tools, machinist's rules, well-organized clecos, cleco pliers, and everything else you might need to assemble an aluminum airplane....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/05/06/let-the-drilling-begin/

Let the drilling begin Clecos on pararade I finally broke the seal today and started assembling the rudder from the pre-drilled kit. It was a slow start, as I needed to get up to speed with the Renton Technical College i…

A friend loved the STOL video I posted earlier. Here's another that shows the incredible short-takeoff performance of these planes. Not to confuse matters, the version of the CH 750 family that interests me is the cross-country type. But some builders, including Jonathan Fay, have built their Cruzers as excellent back-country planes that have great short-takeoff performance, as well. Without much sacrifice of a higher cruising speed.
http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/27/596/

Short-takeoff-and-what!? A friend on the pages version of this blog loved the STOL video I posted earlier. Here’s another that shows the incredible short-takeoff performance of these planes. Not to confuse m…

I present to you my initial work as a student of precision machining at Renton Technical College, in Renton, Wash. These are blocks of carbon steel and aluminum drilled to tolerances of no more than 30 thou. (That's 0.030 inches.) Eventually, this course leads to a program in Aerospace & Industrial Production Technologies -- it's a pipeline to Boeing, which of course builds 737s at a plant about two miles away from the college....

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/27/theyre-more-than-just-holes-in-metal/

They’re more than just holes in metal I present to you my initial work as a student of precision machining at Renton Technical College, in Renton, Wash. These are blocks of carbon steel and aluminum drilled to tolerances of no more tha…

Wouldn't it look great pulling into Camp Scholler in this bad boy? "Andromeda is registered with the state of California, albeit as a 1979 Pace Arrow motorhome. A rescued 1957 Convair 240 airplane became 1980’s motorhome with full amenities, and even a hot tub!" Convair 240 Airplane-RV Conversion with International Diesel Engine... (craigslist.org)

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/25/attention-oshkosh-family/

Attention Oshkosh family Wouldn’t it look great pulling into Camp Scholler in this bad boy? “Andromeda is registered with the state of California, albeit as a 1979 Pace Arrow motorhome. A rescued 1957 Convair 2…

It's scheduled for May 11 with a brand-new designated pilot examiner. If I don't screw it up, I'll then be an Official Licensed Pilot. There's an hour-long oral examination on everything I've learned as a student pilot, then an hour or so of demonstrating takeoffs, a series of flight maneuvers, and landings. The flying part should go something like this:

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/23/i-will-not-get-nervous-about-my-check-ride-i-will-not-get-nervous-about-my-check-ride-i-will-not-get-nervous-about-my-check-ride/

I will not get nervous about my check ride. I will not get nervous about my check ride. I will not get nervous about my check ride. It’s scheduled for May 11 with a brand-new designated pilot examiner. If I don’t screw it up, I’ll then be an Official Licensed Pilot.There’s an hour-long oral examination o…

It's an all-metal, two-seat aircraft that meets the requirements of the sport pilot license.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/23/what-is-a-zenith-750-cruzer/

What is a Zenith 750 Cruzer? It’s an all-metal, two-seat aircraft that meets the requirements of the sport pilot license. The Cruzer is the cross-country member of the CH 750 family, which includes a STOL “off-airp…

The rudder kit was nicely packed, and the inventory was complete. And best of all, 300 rivets to pull!

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/23/the-moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for-the-unboxing/

The moment you’ve all been waiting for: The Unboxing The rudder kit was nicely packed, and the inventory was complete. ManualRibsSparSkinsDoublersHingeRudder hornTop cap And best of all, 300 rivets to pull! The next step will be studying the very det…

This plane is similar to the Cruzer I'm toying with.

http://deanbetz.com/2021/04/23/x-stol-in-a-zenith-750/

X-STOL in a Zenith 750 This plane is similar to the Cruzer I’m toying with. Some key differences from where I’m at: The Cruzer is the “fast” version of the 750 series This airplane is the short-ta…

N83TZ updated their website address.

That ding-dong at the front door a few minutes ago was a UPS delivery truck with the rudder starter kit for a Zenith 750 Cruzer. Now if I could just find those damn clecos I inherited from my dad …