RV-8 ALUMINUM LEGS---HULA GIRL GETS SEXY---NEW VENDER!

[jdmunzell]

Bruce, Hula Girl is gorgeous! I'm still at the QB Fuse stage and starting to get going on it, but have been trying to keep the " polish" option an option. My hangarmate swapped his stock legs for the polished Grove ones and gave me the stock legs. I will probably just use the stock ones for now trying to save a little money here and there just to get my -8 in the air!

I'm really interested in your wheel pants! How did you achive that look? Are those custom aluminum pants or Van's stock ones with some aluminum added?

[BruceEicher]

Originally Posted by jdmunzell

Bruce, Hula Girl is gorgeous! I'm still at the QB Fuse stage and starting to get going on it, but have been trying to keep the " polish" option an option. My hangarmate swapped his stock legs for the polished Grove ones and gave me the stock legs. I will probably just use the stock ones for now trying to save a little money here and there just to get my -8 in the air!

I'm really interested in your wheel pants! How did you achive that look? Are those custom aluminum pants or Van's stock ones with some aluminum added?

Hi Jeff,
Thanks!
Actually it’s only chrome and blue vinyl over the stock pants. Did the same on all fairings and canopy skirt including the old leg fairings now eliminated.
You can see my wrapping thread here. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=98932

So you had Van’s eliminate the stock gear legs and fairings from the fuselage kit? How much did that save? I ask because I have a set to sell, cheap.

Cheers!

[rv8gibbo]

How are the ends formed Richard? Bent Milled then treated?

[jdmunzell]

I saved $600 from the fuse order by eliminating the stock legs. My hangarmate gave me his for a few periodic BBQ lunches!

That wrap is very cool! I love the look!

[kentlik]

Bruce,
Nice to meet you yesterday, thank you for taking the time and talking with me. Or rather me talking your ear off!

Kent

[DanH]

Originally Posted by scsmith

To the eye, they look like a more completely contoured airfoil shape. I seem to recall the Grove ones had a leading edge area, a trailing edge area, and a flat intermediate area? I could be wrong, just how I remember.

Steve, that's correct on the Grove legs. You can see the flat area in the reflection in this photo:

[Richard@Langair]

Originally Posted by rv8gibbo

How are the ends formed Richard? Bent Milled then treated?

We mill them flat, have them heat treated to soft state, we bend them while soft with our press, and then send them back to the heat treater's to get aged to the hard condition. The brake line hole is of course drilled while it is flat before heat treating.

[BruceEicher]

I had a free weekend to layup new transition fairings to fit the airfoil of my new gear legs. I did use Van’s stock lower leg to wheelpant starter fairing, but if you are making your own upper, not much more work to make the lower from scratch too.

One evening taping with box tape, plastic wrapping and forming clay.


Layup on Sunday


Monday, Layups removed, showing is one of the old chrome vinyl covered fairings. Also I added small bumps on the sides of each wheelpant for additional brake clearance from shimming them out to clear the larger tires added last year.



Monday continues, Trimming, rough shaping, mounting for flights these next few weeks. Will final fill, shape (reduce size some) and chrome vinyl soon, but flight ready


If you are at Oshkosh, lookup Ken with his new airplane debuting there, and he should have a pair of sexy legs to show you too, RV-8 aluminum airfoil landing gear legs to be more specific.

[ksdflying]

Excellent look. Thanks for posting. Yup...I am buying these for sure!

[Vincenzo]

Have any calculations or structural tests been made before production?
Compared to the originals, what resistance do they have?