Tell us what you did today on your Bearhawk Project

[DBeaulieu]

Got the EZ heat pad install on my sump finished up. My hat is off to alaskabearhawk who was able to do his EZ heat install with the engine and plane all put together and do a video at the same time !
EZ heat pad on small.jpg

[DBeaulieu]

Progress being made on the fabric covering since moving it last month to the heated shop. Using Polyfiber without inside fabric. Also started finalizing paint schemes. Like these versions the best so far.

Fuse and vertical fin side view.jpg Fabric progress.jpg

Starburst.jpg Starburst side view.jpg

[DBeaulieu]

I think I've gotten about just as far as I can go with baffles until I get the nose bowl and cowl U channels fitted up. Looks like another interesting task...

nose bowl starting.jpg

[DBeaulieu]

Prop and backplate on closeup.jpg Got the spinner backplate and prop hung today. Still need to put on the spinner forward bulkhead and spinner. Then, I can get that nose bowl situated.
Prop and backplate on.jpg
Prop and backplate rear view closeup.jpg

[500AGL]

Dave,

Sorry for the late post. If it helps, you can order a spacer kit from Bearhawk that will allow you to position the nose bowl without having the prop mounted.
I'm out this week but call Virgil.

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IMG_9718.jpg

[rodsmith]

Curious if this works for more than one brand of props?

[Bcone1381]

That is a huge deal. You guys just make building better and easier.

[DBeaulieu]

500AGL That would work really nice. I actually got the nose bowl initially placed and spaced, but still figuring out how secure it in place as I fab and fit up the U channels to support it. Open for suggestions. Lots of tape?
Nosebowl initial placement small.jpg

[spinningwrench]

I sent you a plywood scheme to pull this off, did you not get it?

[huntaero]

Made a spacer from plywood bolted it to the crank and screwed another piece of plywood to clamp it in place using wood screws. mounted the firewall behind the engine mount on a rotiserie so i could rotate the assy. Could be mounted on the fuselage also then join them together.

[500AGL]

rodsmith that one is for the trailblazer but I can probably provide any Hartzell prop. I don’t have files for any other brand.

DBeaulieu tape maybe as you said - just want to secure it well for fitup

Bcone1381 Thats our goal!

[DBeaulieu]

Tried this technique in an attempt to work some more on baffle fitment and possibly a cowling fabrication. Leveled (horizontally) the top engine mount braces and the split line of the nose bowl and worked on getting good symmetry of the spinner to the nose bowl. Top U-channel pieces are placed with 12" spacing and cut generously for final trimming. Where can I go from here...if anywhere? I can measure for making a jig to hold the nose bowl correct distance from spinner back plate (by referencing the crank flange?) That would allow me to pull the prop and get that out of my way. Still mulling things over - open for suggestions! All input appreciated! Cheers Dave

nosebowl to firewall braces 1 small.jpg

[rkennell]

Since moving into the farm shop, the wings have remained in the cradle with most of the wiring and plumbing done. My attention has turned to the fuselage which I put on a rotisseries. I removed the landing gears and temporarily reinstalled the tall feathers to facilitate the installation of the yaw and electric trim servos. I am going through a learning curve on how bend metal. Follow builder Dean has been very helpful giving pointers and advice. He has also been designing the electrical system and we have had many discussion about panel design. Both the of the designs have stabilized and only require final tweaking. Today, I finally finished the bracket for the yaw servo and mounted it. tomorrow it will be getting the seervo connected to the rudder horn.

The first photos are of the electric trim and the amount of travel I have.
IMG_5567.jpg IMG_5577.jpg IMG_5580.jpg

These are of the yaw servo.
IMG_5597.jpg IMG_5599.jpg

Early drawing for the electrical system and panel.
IMG_5523.jpg IMG_5522.jpg IMG_5516.jpg
Work is progressing.

[Bcone1381]

Hey Roger, Good to see you making progress!!

A data point on your electrical system drawing. You say Its an "early drawing." Great to share it with us! A classic quote from the link below on failure tolerance (P.2 second column) "Remember we are striving to design failure tolerant systems and pilots to go with them..." That means the goal is if one electrical system component fails, nothing scary happens. Some of us look over diagrams for scary single point failure modes. I see one.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/failtoll.pdf

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[rkennell]

That is a good and helpful point Brooks. Thanks. We are having the system reviewed by several people. Dean and I are in discussion as to what needs to be done to eliminate a single point failure situation. For this system it is critical because of its reliance on electrical power to keep the engine running. Thanks.

[rkennell]

We add a second feeder to the essential buss and put diodes on all of the feeders to the essential and non-essential busses.

[gregc]

IMG_4383.jpg

I noted that Bob has kevlar floor panels in his very lightweight Companion. I made a piece for the baggage area floor in mine. 2 layers of kevlar with 1 of carbon fiber in between. 2 lbs less than .032 aluminum.

[svyolo]

I haven't tried that combo for anything. I might give it a try. I would have guessed two layers of carbon with Kevlar as the core.
I made one attempt at a floorboard using foam core, without vacuum bagging. I will probably try again in the next couple of months with a V bag.

[Gerhard Rieger]

Traditional Hoerner wingtip 22” made of alclad 2024/T3. I still have to finish the leading edges, fit the landing lights and nav lights.

[Dpearson]

Got the right wing all closed up. That’s a lotta rivets!
On to the left one now…

[Gerhard Rieger]

Satisfying to stand back and to take a look at a finished wing, great job

[U2fletch]

Waiting on hangar floor to get epoxied before we completely unbox our QB BH5 kit #56. In the meantime I decided to see how the Beringer wheels/brakes work. The brake calipers are fixed, and the disk floats, which is interesting, and the calipers are inside the disk! These are the 10" wheels.


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The kit includes an aluminum spacer, which sets the caliper to bearing distance. This spacer is 1.5" inner diameter, so does not fit over the portion of tubing next to the flange where you bolt everything together. Also, that tube is a little too short, (0.154") to get the correct spacing without the Beringer part so I chucked it in the lathe and removed 0.062" with a boring bar. and left a small lip inside to face the bearing.

20250327_100421_resized.jpg


A quick trial fit and I was relieved to find that there is just barely enough thread on the axle for the retaining nut and cotter pin.


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29" Dessers will go on the wheels, so think it will work fine.

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