Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers
Online Community of Zenith Builders and Flyers
Shaved Slat Brackets
If you've seen my Slats and VG's post, you know I definitely prefer the VG's/no slats configuration on my 750 since I really don't need extreme ascent/descent angle ability into obstructed strips. Aesthetically, it bugs me to have the "naked" slat brackets protruding from the leading edge. They're so prominent and with the empty mounting holes, I typically get the question "What are those for?" or "What attaches to that?" In other words - a plane that I really tried to finish-out looks unfinished!
On a really boring winter day, I knocked-out some non-functional trim pieces that mimic the leading-edge profile but at least gave the brackets something to attach to! (You can see them in the "Slats and VG's" post.) I have had a good time with them as when asked about them by someone without a clue, I look at them with a straight face and say "those cut down on sonic boom propagation." Good for a laugh!
However, I've now decided all the trim pieces do is call even more attention to the brackets since they are so prominent. The easiest solution would be to shave the brackets off flush with the leading edge and call it a day, but that means (a) there's no going back to slats, ever, and (b) I've got a nice paint job on the wings and even with careful masking and taping, it might be tough to really cut those brackets down flush without damaging the finish and/or leading edge.
I think it's unlikely I'll ever put the slats back on, but in the event the plane had to be sold (over my dead body!), a potential buyer might very well want that capability - especially since the slats are hanging right there on the hangar wall! It has been suggested that perhaps the most-practical and "cleanest" look might be to just trim the existing brackets back to less than an inch or so and follow the leading-edge profile. Before cutting them back, one could template the portion of the existing bracket that protrudes from the leading edge so as to later easily make an "intermediate" bracket to link the slat bracket on the wing and the bracket on the slat (thus restoring the slat to its proper position relative to the wing) if the slats are to later be reinstalled.
I would locate pilot holes on the "intermediate" bracket template to be able to later accurately locate them on the wing bracket, but I don't think I would even bother to drill the holes in the wing bracket to keep a clean look - they would be easy enough to do later if the slats were going back on. In reading Zenith's construction standards, it looks like for .063 the "potential" holes in the wing bracket and the pilot holes in the "intermediate" bracket would need a minimum radius edge distance of 10 mm.Due to these brackets overlapping, I'm thinking that means the wing bracket should be trimmed to a final height of 20mm to allow for the mounting holes - real or potential - to have the proper edge radius both fore-and-aft.
20 mm height seems a good compromise as it retains the potential to reattach the slats and makes shaving the bracket easier since the cut will be well above the leading edge skin - easier to mask and protect. Also, if carefully masked, all I'll need to do is touch-up the cut line with paint. Yes, they'll still be protruding, but not nearly so much.
I posted this to solicit input - positive or negative - and to see if I'm creating a problem that someone else has thought of. If I cut those brackets down, I figure I've only got one chance to do it right!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Austin on
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More crummy winter weather, so I completed my slat bracket modification project! I used my steel template to mark a cut line on the original bracket protruding from the wing, cut the bracket off with a small reciprocating saw, and then clamped the steel template to the remaining stub and profiled the stub with a mini belt sander and a file. All I then had to do was touch-up the cut edge with primer and paint. The resultant bracket now protrudes approximately 20mm from the wing which should allow adequate radius edge distance for potential mounting holes. As posted previously, I think it's unlikely I'll put the slats back on in the forseeable future, so I'm not even going to bother to drill the stub brackets. However, I do have pilot holes in my steel template that will make this easy to do should it ever be necessary. I used the same steel template to mark pilot holes on the new intermediate brackets (or maybe they should be called bracket extensions) that extend the brackets so slats can be mounted. I'm going to go ahead and fabricate the bracket extensions and mount them on my slats so the slats could readily be mounted in the future.
I'm pretty pleased with the result - but as we've discussed, it's all in the eye of the beholder! I feel it's the best compromise to create the least visual impact but still retain slat capability. But, alas, no more sonic boom deflectors! LOL!
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Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on
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OKKKK Not to bad. I think your right; don't drill the holes. They (brackets) will probably continue to be a conversation piece but all-in-all......... This is the experimental world. Nice paint job!!
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OKKKK Not to bad. I think your right; don't drill the holes. They (brackets) will probably continue to be a conversation piece but all-in-all......... This is the experimental world. Nice paint job!!
Chris - I just knew that if I kept working on you, I could corrupt your aesthetic sensibilities! ; )
Now, if the clueless asks "What's those for?", I'm going to tell them "Oh, that allows for installation of the optional slats!" Ha!
Seriously, I do think it looks better than this: (sorry about the bug guts)
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It does. I like the bug guts, you've been flying, but of course it kinda irritates me because I can't seem to fine more time to go myself.
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I stacked my useless trim pieces (aka "Sonic Boom Deflectors" LOL!) and used my band saw to cut-out the bracket extensions that would link my shaved brackets to the slats. Since they were already painted, all I had to do was touch-up the three sides where I made cuts. Although I don't anticipate re-installing the slats in the forseeable future, I went ahead and installed the bracket extensions to the slats - primarily to keep them from getting lost but also it'll make a reinstall quick and easy - just clamp my steel template to the wing bracket stubs, drill through the pilot holes, enlarge the holes and bolt the slats on!
After installing the bracket extensions, I put the slats back up on the wall of the hangar for safe storage - guess you can figure how likely I am to take them down anytime soon - I stored them on some ceiling braces even higher that where they were previously stored!
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Permalink Reply by Chumphol Sirinavin on
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Thanks, John.
I have a pair of wings initiallyly built for slats. I have prepared the wing nose skins but haven't installed them yet. To go 'sans slat', instead of making new nose ribs and new nose skins, I may follow your way. My unflown slats may become sign boards.
Champ
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Champ:
Just to give another perspective, here's "the big picture" view of the plane with the shortened brackets ... I think it looks pretty good. At least I don't think your eye is immediately drawn to the brackets instead of the rest of the plane!
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