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Welcome to the neighborhood!/HF Welders

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naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 6:20 am Post subject: Welcome to the neighborhood!/HF Welders

Jerome and all-

     Tom hit on the point that has been nagging at me for 3 years. 

Everything is relative, and everything's a tradeoff.

     I've never personally seen the quality of prints that other kit 

manufacturer's offer, so all I can judge Zenith prints against are what I 

work with every day- injection mold prints. If a designer makes a cumulative 

stack-up error of .0001"/laminate in a 100 pin connector mold, you can make 

$250K worth of junk in a heartbeat. I don't even want to get into problems 

with 3D CAD. On the other hand, I'm glad I'm building a Zenith instead of a 

Kitfox! I know there are some listers that are also familiar with Sonex and 

RV, so what they have to say about the quality of Zenith prints would carry 

more weight than the rest of us. I'm really interested to know, myself. From 

a functional standpoint, the Sonex was a better fit for my needs, but I just 

couldn't see proudly owning something that butt-ugly. (Sorry, Sonex people).

    After a lot of agonizing, I went with the HDS. Once again, tradeoffs. 

Performance is about the same as an XL The big selling point when I got into 

it was the SP eligibility of the XL. In the period since, we've found out 

the HDS is eligible, too. Two wing sections for the XL vs 3 for the HDS- 

advantage, XL. Spar length of 8' max for the HDS vs  12' for the XL- 

advantage, HDS. XL gear vs HDS gear- advantage XL. Simplicity of 

construction, flaps XL vs HDS full span aileron- advantage HDS. Since you're 

considering scratch-building, I'd say go for the HDS if you decide you want 

to.

    One thing you'll find in common with Zenith builders- it doesn't matter 

what version they're building, you can count on them if you need help. We 

bitch and moan and flog the value of different colors of Scotchbrite for 

weeks on end, but stop and look at the serial number on your print and 

divide that into the world population. From the speed of the replies I get 

from some of my e-mentors, I swear they have a computer in their workshop 

with an amplified "Ding" when e-mail comes in.

    Changing the subject, as soon as I'm offline I'll be wiring up my new 

"Garanger" and would like a performance report. I've always welded with my 

uncle's 240V Lincoln stick welder, but the latest HF flyer lists a 240V Flux 

welder #6271

that will also MIG with a gas tank for about $50 less. Any owner input 

appreciated.



                                                                             

                                                                Bill

---

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dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 11:31 am Post subject: Welcome to the neighborhood!/HF Welders

I agree with all the assessments except the negative re flaps on the XL. In 

the kit form, the flaps take about 8 - 10 hours of no sweat work. If you 

want to and are capable of scratch building, then the flaps are probably not 

much of a bother or challenge and they will allow you to point the nose 

steeply downhill without building up to warp speed on final. That may be the 

only time you will use them but I think of it like a big engine in a car. I 

don't drive with my foot to the floor but I want it there when the situation 

calls for it. The 12 foot long wings do take up a lot of shop length... on 

that I fully agree..... I'm wrestling with that right now. I have to be 

creative about where I will store one skin while I debur the skeleton or 

work on access ports in the other skin, etc. Once the wings are 

substantially complete, however they can be stored in a cradle and stay 

there safe and sound until later.



Whatever you decide, have fun and count on the list to be free with help and 

advice.



Ed Moody II

Rayne, LA

601XL / wings



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Spar length of 8' max for the HDS vs  12' for the XL- advantage, HDS.

XL gear vs HDS gear- advantage XL. Simplicity of construction, flaps

XL vs HDS full span aileron- advantage HDS. Since you're considering

scratch-building, I'd say go for the HDS if you decide you want to.

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naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: Welcome to the neighborhood!/HF Welders

Ed-

    List contributors have reported no benefit from XL flaps. I'm not being 

negative, I'm simply repeating what listers other than you have posted.

                                                                Bill

---

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dredmoody(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: Welcome to the neighborhood!/HF Welders

No arguement from me as whether or not others like the flaps or how they 

feel about their usefulness. What I stated about slowing a steeper decent is 

what I witnessed in person flying the demo at the factory. For me they are 

worth messing with even if I only use them once in a blue moon. I threw that 

opinion into the mix because it's valid for me. I don't think I'll use them 

routinely enough to bother with a flap indicator on the panel even though 

the AF-3500 EFIS I'm going to use has the ability to display flap angle. 

It's just not enough return on investment. I'm not bothered about being in 

the minority if that's how it shakes out. I have heard that many flyers say 

they don't use them or hardly ever do. Like I mentioned, I hardly ever 

floorboard the accelerator pedal in my vehicles, but I wouldn't want a 

smaller engine either.



Ed



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