UH-13P Construction Log - Page 12

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Sun May 16, 2004

Well I started a workbench on Saturday and I finished it on Sunday.  This is much better than what I had to work with before.  I am going to put a computer above the air compressor.  I will use it to play tunes and to reference the net to help me finish the hovercraft.

I just need to blow some dust off of the 13P!

Images are now clickable to zoom in!

(I guess I should mention that we moved to a different house). 

 

 

 

 

Mon May 17, 2004 Today I built a rolling platform out of a 2x10 and 2x4 with 2" wheels.  It is in the shape of a T.  I can now move the hovercraft in and out of the garage with ease.  I used the compressor to blow 2 years worth of dust off of it.  I also mounted a couple of shelves in the garage to hold the computer.

I need to get some 1/2 x 1/2 x 12' strips so I can start building the cockpit.  I am going to see if Home Depot will cut some for me.  If not I suppose its time for a table saw.

  
Sat May 22, 2004 Found a place called Windsor Plywood that would cut wood to my specs.  I ordered 10 13'x1/2"x1/2" and 10 8'x3/4"x3/4"  pieces of wood (fir) to form the cockpit and seats respectively.  Cost was $60 for the wood and $30 for cutting.  The order will be ready this Tuesday. 

I need to check my epoxy supply.  It has been stored for 2 years (frozen and unfrozen).  I doubt it is any good.  I will do some test mixes and see.

I painted the work bench this weekend as I wait for the wood...

  

 Wed May 26, 2004

 Picked up the cut wood from Windsor.  They did an awesome job with it.  I also called up Boat Craft and checked if my epoxy would be any good after 3 years in storage.  The guy figured it should be fine.  He suggested I epoxy some wood together and let it cure for a few days then try and break the bond.  If the wood breaks instead of the glue joint then it should be fine.

Going to be a busy summer.  On top of the Hovercraft I also need to build a deck to keep the wife happy. 

 

 

Fri Feb 18, 2005 Well at least I got the deck and a fence built last year :)

This year I am really going to finish it...stop laughing... I'm serious this time... really :)

I checked my epoxy and the resin seems ok but the hardener is no good.  It is burgundy in color now and won't react with the resin so I need to buy new resin.

It's been so long...sigh...I figure I am going to approach the build by working off of Bruce Einarson at http://www.mts.net/~beinarso/ .  I'll build the cockpit and control system basically following his pictures.  The control system will need to be modified because of my lift belt drive.  I think I can manage that on my own.  My goal is get this puppy finished as quickly as possible so I can take it out and enjoy it this year.  I picked up a Millermatic 175 mig welder so I have no excuses now.  I am already dreaming of my next hovercraft...my wife is going to kill me.

Sat Feb 19, 2005 Went to Lawnmower Hospital today and found these two idlers.  They are about 3.5" in diameter and are flat.  They have a flange and are designed to ride on the outside of a belt.  I bought some stainless steel threaded 3/8" rod and nuts and washers... I am going to use these idlers to press down in the middle of the lift belt.  The lift fan idlers pushed the belt up a little high and out of alignment with the sheave.  I don't think it was so bad that it wasn't workable but this will correct the alignment and take the flop out of the belt.  I am not going to use the PVC belt guides as I don't like the idea of the belt rubbing and wearing against the PVC.

I am going to use a piece of 1/2" plywood on the seat sides, similar to the front lift idler mounts, to mount these idlers.  

 

 

Sun Feb 20, 2005 Today I got an email from Marquis with a drawing for how I should angle the Thrust Idlers to avoid the belt jumping off.  I am posting it here so everyone can benefit.  Thanks Marquis!
Mon Feb 21, 2005 Got most of the garage insulated today.  I need to do this before I start work as it will be too cold to work with epoxy if it isn't.  It'll also be too expensive to try and heat a non insulated garage.

 

Sat Feb 26, 2005 The garage is drywalled!  I cleaned it up too... I cleaned off the hovercraft and am ready to get to work.

Thu Mar 3, 2005 We have heat!  45,000 BTU Reznor UDAP Natural Gas heater.  It's been a long time coming but you can't really build in the winter, spring or fall in northern Canada without one of these puppies.  I am off to buy some epoxy, ply, foam and other supplies.

 

 

Fri Mar 4, 2005  I framed the bottom of the cockpit and the seats.  I am building a T shaped seat at the back.  I am using west systems epoxy.  I have the garage at about 20 Celsius and am using the slow cure 207 hardener which I just bought today.  The resin is from 2001.  It's not curing though...argh... I should have bought some fast hardener.  I am not sure if my resin is bad... I didn't think it could go bad.

I cut up a cedar stake into small pieces and brad nailed them to the deck.  I used them to hold the curve of the hull.  I mixed up some epoxy and slightly pulled up the hull formers and brushed the epoxy underneath.  I then  used 2" brads to hold the wood to the hull.  I spaced them about every foot or 8" at some points.

 

Sat Mar 5, 2005 I changed the seat layout.  I am building the main seat first and then I'll add the T section when I do the cockpit sides.

In the second picture you can see the almost mid idler mounts I added.  Not sure if these idlers will work but I'll give it a try. 

I switched to the fast epoxy hardener today.  The slow stuff I was worried about yesterday cured slowly over night.

Added 1/8 ply to the outside of the seat and filleted with epoxy and micro fibers.

Sun Mar 6, 2005 Here are some shots showing the lift belt almost midspan idlers.  I decided to fire the hovercraft up today to see if the worked.  I did it with lift and thrust belts attached but with no props on.  I took some videos below.  They are all under 5mb in size.

LiftBeltIdlers.wmv - This video shows the lift belt Idlers in operation.  The seemed to work well.  We'll see what happens once the props go on.

ThrustWobble.wmv - This video shows the wobble in the thrust belt pulley.  Does this look normal?

ThrustBelts.wmv - This video shows the alignment of the thrust drive belts.  They seem to run really well without the bend in the idler shaft.  I may try it like this first.

Well I got at least a little bit done this weekend.  Firing it up was good for the soul.  I am going to build the thrust duct supports and controls and seat top next.  Then I'll follow that with the cockpit.  I have been thinking about fiberglassing the bottom of the hull.  I am kind of regretting not doing it now especially since I hear Universal now says to do it.  It'll be a pain to do it now.  I'll either have to do it on its side or build a jig to do it upside down.  I don't really think upside down will be a good option.

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