Mark Townsend's Blog (57)

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Prep for Paint

This is a small blog I have spent the last two days running wires from the Forward Fuselage to the rear fuselage, below you can see the outlet for some wires that come out under the passenger seat. I had to spend a day working up the wiring schematic to know what I needed to run.

Fuel lines connect behind the rear spar attachment, a very nice touch Zenith, now we can hide all lines from the cabin area.…

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Added by Mark Townsend on March 3, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Cowling Pre-Fit

This is just a pre-fit of the cowling, I want to judge if I need to install a spacer or not for the prop that is on order.



I have been asked on several occasions where to plane a taxi light on the STOL series, this is… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 28, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Workshop Day 2



Most of us have been here, remember the fun of the day and the nerves of that first hole.



Another Fine STOL 750 Rudder, just a reminder, Rudders for the 750 made prior to Feb 25 should change out the rudder horn for the New thicker horn. Please contact Zenith or Can-Zac if you have an older Rudder horn on your 750… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 27, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Rudder Workshop

Today is a personal Rudder Workshop, This fellow was only able to attend in a couple of particular days and I am more then happy to accommodate, as long as it fits into the shop schedule.

The controls are simpilar to the 801's but have one very major difference, these ones go in fast, with no problems, while the 801 requires quite a bit of time for alignment.…

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Added by Mark Townsend on February 26, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

750 Rotax 912

Started on the firewall with the installation of the mount and the oil reservoir .

Taa Daa !! We have installation of a Rotax 912ULS on the nose of a STOL 750, I have more pictures of the early part of this install and will include them in my photo album when I have a little time at the hanger.



Installation of the engine is quite simple so far, the muffler was a bear to get in, but they all are… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 22, 2009 at 10:00pm — 4 Comments

750 Nose Gear

Not much visable progress in the last few days, All steel parts have primed and painted, then a trip to Zenair for the Rotax FWF package.



The Rotax cowling is one of the prettiest cowlings I have seen. It should look just fantastic on this 750.



I was able to spend a little bit of time and get the main landing gear in place, the rubbers for the… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 20, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Aye Captain we got wheels

Today was a late start and I must finish early to catch up on the 290 messages since Sunday, so it is simple tasks for the day, best place to start is the landing gear. Here on the table I have inverted the gear leg and used my axle drilling jig to ensure straight holes.



Perfect holes make this a simple as fast installation, though I went through 3 batteries in the cordless drills to do these 8… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 17, 2009 at 11:05pm — No Comments

Monday Maddness on 750

I suspect large visual progress is now over, time to get the hidden stuff installed like the controls. Some Wiring and fuel lines.





Unexpected was the installation of the windows I would rather have left them off but they are captured under peices that need to be riveted in. They look real nice but I will… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 16, 2009 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

750 Rivet-O-Rama

Well it is Sat Feb 14th and what better way to say I love you dear then to hand her a Vixen file. Yep it is time to de-burr the forward fuselage and my sweetie wanted to spend the day with me. Isn't that romantic, I married my best friend and even after 22 years she is still happy to help in the shop.



We start by removing the forward fuselage again and completely disassembling the whole thing. be-burr every part and chromate mating… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 14, 2009 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

No- Dissasemble Stephanie ( Short Circuit Movie)

Well that was it I ran out of cleco’s, so it is time to return to the rear fuselage and spend the day in disassembly and de-burring and Zinc Chromate. But I always look forward to the riveting, Stepahnie was not around to stop the dissasembly so off I go...( if you don't get it don't worry it was a 1986 movie filmed in Toronto)

I always look forward to riveting but seldom seem to do very much of it. Today was… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 13, 2009 at 11:16pm — 3 Comments

Cleco's sacrifice there young!

"Actually, there is a reason for the apparent death of clecos------- Just as it has been noted that coat hangers left undisturbed in a dark closet will mate and multiply, and their progeny will mate and multiply, etc., clecos are known to be intensely hostile to each other, no matter what their size (breed). What happens is that, when left undisturbed in a dark shop overnight, they attack each other, killing each other off at sometimes hideous rates. Also, being intelligent creatures, they hide… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 13, 2009 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Lemonade for Sale

Lemonade Anyone!

Today was a bit of a surprise that Jarod has a P.D. Day and Mom is unable to be present? So off to work with Dad, Jarod has one simple rule to contend with, either Keep Jarod Busy or Jarod will keep you busy!! Jarod started the day making a few stabilizer ribs for his own plane but quickly petered out and opted for building a Lemonade stand. He has not learned the fine qualities of Coffee and I will not introduce him to them, he… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 12, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

The Morning is a loss!!

Today is Wed and as such I have an open hanger morning for the local RAA chapter which entails that I host the morning coffee and doughnuts. With word getting out that I have a new kit in the shop, I have more visitors then usual. SO I do not get to work until noon again today. As you will notice, the table has gone bye bye, I use a table when I am working on flat stock but as soon as assembly starts I use two saw horses adn two 12 ft 2X2metal peices with several 4ft metal peices. This works… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 11, 2009 at 11:00pm — 3 Comments

Time for the rear Fuselage

This went a lot faster then I expected, So I am going to do another section.



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OK maybe another, THE end of Tuesday and I have 3 sections of the rear fuselage complete. Tomorrow I will see if I can get them put… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 10, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

First Day on the 750

Got into the shop a bit late today, but I am ready to go. Inventory only showed one part missing and a couple backordered. None of which will delay my building at this time. Zenith has been very busy getting the STOL 750's out as fast as possible and included in the box was a set of Fuselage drawings, I looked for the usual CD for the builders photo assembly manual and could not find one, so I called Joyce at Zenith. The photo manuals are not finished… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 9, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Inventory for Wifie, Fuel tanks and wings for me



Lisa is busy doing inventory today, so I decided to finish up on the fuel system for the 701. I just picked up the sender installation kit on Friday. With the 750 wanting to be built I need to finish up this wing completely as I will not get back to them in awhile. This 701 was rescued out of a barn and is 15 years old, it was used for a chicken coop. I now have over 900 hrs into it I have had to dissasemble the fuselage to re-build it into a… Continue

Added by Mark Townsend on February 7, 2009 at 10:00pm — 4 Comments

Building a STOL 750



Friday Feb 6th my STOL 750 Fuselage has arrived. First job on the list is to do an inventory, better yet, wife can do inventory while I install a muffler on the 701.

Added by Mark Townsend on February 6, 2009 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

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