more work on the... Radial Fuselage.

February 28, 2026
       4130...
                   yeah, 4130.

What a beautiful Colorado day... to spend with BIG ASS BIRD. It was beautiful outside too. I'm not use to 65 degree sunny days on the last day of February.

Today I spent time figuring out the air exit in the firewall. Based on the CAD drawings of the Pitts Model 12 firewall I followed (whether right or wrong) there is an air exit at the center bottom of the firewall. To prevent all that air from rushing into the cockpit I need to come up with a air 'duct' to allow it to follow back and down from the engine compartment.

Near six hours later and I think I have the plan and the third revision of a pattern to use for that plan. And thinking this through, I'd like to fashion this piece out of something that is more fire resistant than aluminum. Right now I'm unsure if I'll use a piece of the stainless steel that I have from making the firewall.

Why? It's not that easy to work with... at all. Originally thinking to make it out of aluminum... not suce a good idea. I'm now thinking of creating this out of maybe thin 4130 and running some stiffeners along the long 19inch surface to keep it from bening under the force of the wind. This will allow me to make a 'box' that can be welded up AND fire proof that area. I like that idea.

I also located the rod that connects the fuel on/off to the actual fuel valve. Loosely bolted that into place with the incorrect hardware (which WILL be changed to AN.)

Random thought... I need to figure out a way to put more hours in a month on the build. At this pace it's going to take me more than forever to complete it. With it being 45 minutes to an hour away I'm not able to walk out to it each night to put and hour or more on it. (insert a little sad face)

Have a great week...

March 8, 2026
       Quality time...
                   and yeah, a lot of thinking too.

Some quality time spent with Fernanda yesterday, out hiking some of Colorado's great outdoors... time for some quality time with BIG ASS BIRD today.

Almost there... but still a long ways off. A lot, A LOT, of little things, and still some BIG things left to do.

Pattern for the air exhaust whatchamacallit made last weekend. This weekend... testing out that pattern.

Had a scrap piece of .0320 laying around for just this occasion. Rough hand cut, then cut to the line. Did the bends on it by using the small hand-held bender I have... but should have used that Black and Decker clamping table I have. It always made nice bends in thinner metals. BUT... I didn't and it didn't change the results which was to see if this is what I was looking for. And it was.

With a few tweaks to the final pieces... this puppy is a go! All I need to do is order the metal for it and then make more accurate measurements before making the final piece.

Spent the rest of my time figuring out how I was going to enclose the areas around the main gear legs coming into the fuselage. Right now... from the gear legs forward, I have an open space. Ya know how you play with something even though you don't know which direction it's going to take you? That was me today. I wanted to figure this out but not quite sure how to go about doing it. It was a lot of play today. And still more playing to do. I'll have to see if I can find a few images of that area online... or better yet, ask the biplane form guys.

Have a great week...