The second engine run .. Of about 5 mins was a much more controlled and pleasant affair !!

explored a bit more of the range .. Very small movement invoked the most amazing amount of thrust … Boy this hung is going to go ….

I ran her up to about 60% .. Once I had some warmth in ….

I could then hear the zing of the prop as the sound echoed around of the hangar walls .. She sounded just like a REAL aeroplane … Just absolutely purred …. Back to slow running which was clearly ‘hunting’ .. That is the choke not closing properly .. Part now ordered from Sky Craft to peg this properly

I could then see that the multi engine monitor unit I had indicated that a warning in the Port CHT .. No reading so looks like maybe a bad connection … RPM was varying between -300 and plus +800 … This was located to my incorrect initial setting of the RPM defaults … Spotted I had left the default of 6 pulses per revolution when the Jab only has two nuts that pass the tacho ! Now reset will check on next run

Wired up prop ahead of planned engine test ..

Pre torqued up as per Hercules spec … Nice clear instructions they provide with each prop

Although i intend to put a double Trig set in i am starting off with an Icom unit. The ariel that comes with the Icom should be fine for testing but def not mid channel crossings !

So i have a top of cabane mounted comant ariel which i have made an under tray for with rivnuts so that i have blind access. Three long countersunk allen headed bolts complete the fitting.

I sourced two RG58 co ax plugs from RS and these will be fitted to the base today ready for covering the centre top cabane (Olive Green). The Green contrasts to the Cub Yellow wings but carries in the top cowl, upper body colour scheme before it changes to Yellow behind the pilots head.

I intend to curl some slack ariel cable in the top cabane so that i have ‘working’ cable should i need to service the ariel.

I am now looking for suitable trunking rubber to secure down the back of one of the supports struts so that the ariel cable routes neatly to the cockpit.

Although it’s been a long family break I have been trying to keep things moving over the Christmas and New Year break !

The big build  to a ski trip was dashed when the high winds meant we couldn’t sail off the island so ended up flying to Malta .. Not renowned for its ski slopes ! But lovely 20′ nonetheless …

it’s been a great chance to catch up with odd days and hours when the work support and trips permitted …

• Tidying and gluing the underside covering
• This leaves just two full length sides  – about 3 evenings work
• Re rigging all upper cables for the tailplane
• Making a new wing bracing wire as last re rig proved one was just too short
• Re thread the pitot tubes through the drag spar and into the fuselage
• Connecting the plumbing for the fuel tank and incorporating a drain plug / valve
• Completing the wiring of the 2 x CHT and 2 x EGT sensors
• Adding a splitter pair of wires to allow a secondary CHT gauge in the front cockpit
• Securing the throttle cable guide
• Ordering some sheathed cable for the magnetos and headset connectors
• Complete drilling and fitting of the lower wing tips using small alloy brackets to allow removable option
• Tweak trailer wing support to accept tailor made carbon fibre supports that span two full ribs cushioning the whole transport
• Re fitted all 4 ailerons
• Purchased 4 gate bolts as advised by my good fellow builder Danny to make the return springs on each wing peg
• Re sized the headrest to be a closer fit to the head bubble
• Pre tested the icom unit

Next step .. Onto trailer and up to the airport for first engine test run

Haven’t done this for years !

Middle son Will is picking up the old traits and, rather than buy all foam, out of the box, battery in, and fly type models … he has opted to build an RCM&E FW190 plan based aircraft.

Interesting to get used to reading this sort of plan again and prepping all the ribs and spars etc He has also invested in some Robart retracts … I always dreamt of those but could never afford them … had mechanical set which were a bit clunky ! Flew them in my SuperStar off an old American aerodrome in Suffolk called Alpheton

Spent a few hours pulling various parts that were covered some time ago and can now be re-joined to the mother ship !

The Elevators have been off ever since covering as have the tailplanes and elevators but now I have decided the wings are on to stay (they have been on and off about 3 times to date) then they can all start to go back on board.

Pays to mark these ..(‘S’ for Starboard) as each was pretty built in situ you do get slight deviations in fitting placements … which effectively makes all placements unique.

Looks so much better when the tail goes on … will leave the re rigging off for now as that will get in the way of covering the sides. Picture right above … shows a position that will NEVER happen .. differential elevators !  – mid way through re connecting.

These are extremely difficult to re-connect post covering I imagine so I took the opportunity to reconnect now where I can get easy access. Will take the overhead of tricky side covering !

Nice to get first aileron back on .. These look quite nice now they are covered and sensible gap on the frise 🙂