Wagabond build
- Thread starter todd2391
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Stephen
FRIEND
Lopez Island, WA
Check out my log here that I posted on building a Bushmaster. The pictures answer some of your questions. Also, I have all the drawings on a CD. It is a bit complex but, though. It will turn your plane into a side by side SC. What ever you do post pictures here of your project as you go along. You add an extra bay to the fuselage just aft of the baggage area. Of course starting from scratch you can buy full length longerons and skip the splices. This will be a cool project.
blueshortwing
Non-Member
Kewanee, IL
Just flew our 1948 PA-15/17 Vagabond last evening. Not sure why you would want to lengthen or widen. I am 5'10" and 230, wife 5'6" 130 and we fit fine. Can fit more weight than it can legally carry. I have A65, but think C85 would be perfect engine for airplane. Range would suffer without wing tanks. Good luck on project....Vag is great airplane as designed!
d.grimm
Non-Member
Toledo,OH
The Vagabond I had was a C85, two twelve gallon wing tanks.
If I was building from scratch I would build with two doors, wing tanks, C85, light electrical system, and a 1320 gross weight.
Excellent flying airplane, keep it light as possible.
Dave
If I was building from scratch I would build with two doors, wing tanks, C85, light electrical system, and a 1320 gross weight.
Excellent flying airplane, keep it light as possible.
Dave
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Stephen
FRIEND
Lopez Island, WA
One would change the lengths for the same reason Piper did. The Vag is a great airplane just as the SC series are. They do different things. Longer wings mean 10 mph or more reduction in approach and landing speeds, longer glide, 3 mph reduction in cruise and about 90 pounds increase in weight. There is no change in the cockpit. Build the plane you want for your mission. Either choice is a winner.
Any design you choose keep it light as possible, less weight = greater acceleration = shorter take-off + climb. Dave is correct.
I had an 85 hp in my J3, it was an excellent performer. If I were doing it again and experimental, I might try a hopped up 0-200.
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I will post pics and look for advise as I start this project. I just got back from oshkosh and picked up a tail and aileron kit from wag aero on the way home. I am putting a O-235 on the wagabond build. In november of 2016 I completed a sport trainer(cub). I really enjoy the building process. The sport trainer has a C-85 with electric, balanced tailed, and super cub sliding window on left side.
dbudd
MEMBER
CRAWFORD, NE
Dad sprayed with two champs back in the mid 60s one had a c90 one had a o235 the 90 would way out perform the o235. Maybe the o235 was a dog maybe the airplane was heavier. I do know the continental is lighter. I put a hopped up 0-200 on my cub and like it.
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SClow303
Non-Member
You can check out my build under the experimental section. Mine is a Wag a Bond fuselage stretched to the length of a Pacer with and widened at the dash and shoulder area by I believe almost 5 inches. It has clipper controls mated to extended pacer wings. I have PA-18 gear on mine. I wish we could have met up at Oshkosh!!! My stretch is mainly in the tail and I can take detailed pics and measurements for you. I cannot take credit for my awesome fuselage as I obtained it from another member on the site.
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Tracy Hille
MEMBER
Sandusky, Ohio
If we time this right, I could be getting my Vag off the rotisserie around the time you plan on starting your fuselage; you are welcome to use it. I'd rather see it be used vs. just torn apart.
Also, I've added a left side door to my Vag; I built a fixture to produce either produce/repair both the left & right side vagabond doors.
Also, I've added a left side door to my Vag; I built a fixture to produce either produce/repair both the left & right side vagabond doors.
Graham, Texas, United States
Nice weld.
Thanks for the compliment on the welds. So this week I closed the ends of the elevator trailing edge tubes, they came open from wag aero. I added linseed oil and welded caps on them. I also got the rudder tack welded together and cleaned up some more engine parts and painted a few intake tubes.
Progress was a little slow this week, I had 3 trees cut down and split all the wood with the help of some friends. I did manage to finish the rudder with beacon bracket on top and nav light bracket on rear, finishing with epoxy primer. I also got my crank, cam, rods, crank gear, and tappets back from aircraft specialties, which wasn't cheap. I also went over a lot of the piper drawings for the colt, vagabond, and tri pacer. I decided to make a colt fuselage with control wheels, jackscrew and use aluminum ribs and spars for the wings. Next I will start the horizontal stabs.
I did look at your website and it has alot of good photos and information. Thanks for posting all that. This week I cleaned all the engine hardware along with oil dipstick, and a couple intake tubes. I also welded up one horizontal stabilizer. Didn't get much progress the week before due to a tailwheel shimmy on my sport trainer. I had to order a locking pin that was worn out and get that back running.
Graham, Texas, United States
Are you painting the hardware? I usually clean, bead blast it and take it to the prop shop and have it plated and then baked to eliminate hydrogen embrittlement.
Yes I painted hardware. Cleaned in MEK, Walnut shells in parts tumbler with a couple scoops of metal polish, and another mek soaking. After all cleaning is done I inspected all hardware with 10 magnifying glass. I ended up throwing some out that didn’t look good either threads or pits. It took along time inspecting. And make my eyes a little crazy by the end.
Graham, Texas, United States
I figured the paint would scratch off when tools were used on it. I know Lycoming assembles their engines and then steams cleans them and then paints. The paint always comes off in spots. I paint the pieces individually and have the hardware plated. Looks good and seems to last.
True somepaint will come off. Especially off the heads when torqued. I follow up with cleaning and touch up paint. But if you use a cad plated bolt the cad wears off the same as paint. The reason I believe lycoming paint comes off is because they paint over cad plated bolts and cases. Paint does not stick very well to cad. Unless you scuff it up. But then you take the cad off the bolt or case. I think it is all acceptable. It’s just personal preference. I do appreciate all the input I’ve been getting from everyone
Latest update is I got a set of seats and control column and elevator bell crank. I got the fabric and foam off the seats. The fabric cement is very hard to remove. I am blowing threw the MEK. I got the bell crank and some other smaller hardware cleaned and primed. I also completed the second horizontal stabilizer. The second one welled up a lot faster because the jig was just left in place from the first one. I am going to start the wing flaps shortly after I get the seats and control column cleaned up. I am using the wag aero ailerons for the wagabond. I was thinking about using the shorter ailerons from the colt wings and maybe adding flaps. I started reading all the great posts on SWPC and it seems the choice is more personal preference. The cost in weight and money doesn't seem to justify the 3-5 MPH in stall speed reduction. So I am trying to keep it light and on the cheap with no flaps then.
SClow303
Non-Member
Thats why all my engine hardware is just fingered tightened.... can’t scuff my nice paint!
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I am building a colt fuse, which is a little longer and set up for stabilizer jack screw instead of trim tab. I like control yokes in side by side, its a little easier to get into. I also like the control sticks when it is tandem seating, just personal preference.
Stephen
FRIEND
Lopez Island, WA
Wouldn't sticks be lighter?
Stephen
FRIEND
Lopez Island, WA
Your plane. Your choice. Good for you.
I loved my J3 and it's sticks. I now have sticks in my Pacer and love it. But, I see your point. In my chase I have a left door and my sticks are shorter than the Clipper's, which make easy access for me. If you were climbing over both sticks it might be a bigger challenge. Although, there are some old fart's flying Clippers successfully.
I loved my J3 and it's sticks. I now have sticks in my Pacer and love it. But, I see your point. In my chase I have a left door and my sticks are shorter than the Clipper's, which make easy access for me. If you were climbing over both sticks it might be a bigger challenge. Although, there are some old fart's flying Clippers successfully.
redbarron55
Non-Member
Navarre, FL.
I prefer sticks in tandem or single place aircraft and yokes in side by side.
I just prefer the throttle in my left hand and stick in the right. I suppose one could sit on the right and then the throttle and stick would be n the correct order.
Then the pilot's door would be in the right place? We could pretend we were flying a helicopter.
I just prefer the throttle in my left hand and stick in the right. I suppose one could sit on the right and then the throttle and stick would be n the correct order.
Then the pilot's door would be in the right place? We could pretend we were flying a helicopter.
Graham, Texas, United States
Keeps you limber. 8)
