Comment

Comment by Tim Smart on March 11, 2013 at 4:32am

Hello Roland,

Sorry but I can't answer either of your questions. Being on a limited budget I buy in small quantities as I progress and I am only skinning my first wing. As far as the rivet part numbers from Aircraft Spruce, that bothered me too to the point that I have been buying and paying a little more from Zenith for my rivets. Your shipping is I am sure, is much more difficult than mine so I wish I could help. Maybe a new post might get seen by more builders and the can give more assistance. Sorry...

Comment by Roland Hermann on March 11, 2013 at 3:52am

Greetings Tim, I considered riveting tanks as an alternative to. I am scratch building in Romania and since I got the plans in February I keep calculating and buying and estimating costs and sources for materials. My material providers are as close as France and Germany this makes it all work slow ... Could you tell me how many rivets do I have to order for the entire air frame (using pop rivets) ? And another Q: Why is AS listing the 1604-0412 and the 1604-0514 as non-strucutral blind rivets, are those ok to use?

Comment by Tim Smart on November 16, 2012 at 3:50am

Hello Glenn, first let me say that in speaking to Zenith about my tank build but on a different matter, Zenith recommended welding the fuel tanks. I did not ask for approval of my design or rivet/sealing from Zenith so if I have just invented a new sieve I hold Zenith harmless. I wanted to rivet the filler flange, fuel drain and outlet flanges but could not find any with flange suitable for riveting, these I bought from Zenith and found someone to weld. I searched through many Zenith plans builders for how they built there tanks. The tanks are the same shape as the nose rib only undersized (6K1 dated Aug 9, 2011) so I constructed the end caps the same as I did my nose ribs only to the proper sizing. I did this to save money. If i could have afforded it I would have welded the tanks completely. I did a lot of internet searching and reading. Good luck with your build, again I like your beader.

Comment by Glenn Andressen on November 16, 2012 at 2:47am

I'm impressed Tim! So this creates questions on my part... I know Vans aircraft rivet and seal the tanks, but how did you come up with the end designs? What do Zenith themselves think of it. How about the cap flange and other outlets? I was resigned to farming out the welding, but if riveting and sealing is an option, that suits me.

Can you point me to some guidelines?

Comment by Tim Smart on November 15, 2012 at 3:23pm

Larry,

I used Flamemaster that I bought from Van's, a quart was about $39.00 and Proseal from Aircraft Spruce was about $85.00 a quart (both plus shipping). I saw some negative comments ref flamemater on some blogs but I was very carefull mixing ratios by weight and so far both tanks seem to be curing fine. Since most of Van's aircraft have riveted tanks I did not think they would supply a poor product. Guess we'll see...