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Rollin' my own landing lights

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:24 am
by cjensen
I thought I'd share how I'm making and installing my landing lights in case someone wants to copy them or build 'em better than I am doing. They are somewhat like the Duckworks installation, but I'm doing it my own way. I have purchased everything I'm gonna need to install them, and I think it cost me about $40 TOTAL for two landing lights, one on each wing. I have not upgraded the bulbs to the Silverstars yet, but plan to.

Here's the pics of progress so far...

Leading Edge Hole work-

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Fabrication of the relector mount-

I made a template out of a scrap piece so each side would be identicle...the template is on top with the cut and bent right side below.

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Here are the lights I'm using. $30 fog lights from Meijer.

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That's where I stopped yesterday. I'll post more pics and write ups as I go along. Definitely adds time to the build! :roll:

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:53 am
by captain_john
Chad, I REALLY like it!!!

That is GREAT!!!

Good design! Keep us posted!

:mrgreen: CJ

Cool!

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:08 pm
by RV7Factory
Way to go Chad! They look great!

Ooops... at one point wasn't I supposed to get you some dimensions? :oops: Sorry.

Re: Cool!

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:32 pm
by cjensen
RV7Factory wrote: Ooops... at one point wasn't I supposed to get you some dimensions? :oops: Sorry.
Well...I think so, but no worries! I figured that one out pretty easily. :P

It was just brought to my attention that I'll need a stiffener added to the top or bottom to keep it from flexing and damaging the light or skin. Shouldn't be a problem, and I'll work on that tonight. (Thanks Alton!) 8)

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:02 pm
by Womack2005
Thats what I was thinking from looking at the pics Chad. It looks rather flimsy as is. What thickness AL did you use?

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:20 pm
by cjensen
It's actually not terribly flimsy, but I could easily see it flexing in turbulence or a bad landing, the later being easy to come by! :roll:

It's .025 AL, and I think I have some .016 stiffener scraps that would work without adding much weight.

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:26 pm
by Womack2005
Right on donkey kong 8)

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:26 pm
by cjensen
Okay, here are some pics of the stiffeners I made tonight. I think they'll work great now...

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Wonder where I can get some .016 1" angle (or whatever the stiffeners are, .75" maybe :? )? I'm sure I could get it from Van's after I wait a week and a half... :roll: There's gotta be someplace local...

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:04 pm
by N200PF
Chad tose look GREAT!!! You should start selling them you eBay master you! (did ya get the bike yet?!?)

- Peter

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:10 pm
by tshort
Lookin' good, Chad.

What are you going to do for lenses? Why did you make the cutout a different shape?

Thomas

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:35 pm
by Lorin Dueck
Chad -
Your lights are looking great!!
I don't know what you are planning to do for the lens... but if all else fails - maybe you can order replacement parts from Duckworks.

On another note... I decided to buy the whole package (100W halogen).
I'm pretty happy with the results.

Here's a few pics on what they look like...

Lorin D
9A Wings


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Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:00 am
by Womack2005
Chad, feel free to fly on up here. We have dumpsters full of scrap AL :mrgreen: Or I could send you some.

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:30 am
by cjensen
N200PF wrote:Chad tose look GREAT!!! You should start selling them you eBay master you! (did ya get the bike yet?!?)

- Peter
Thanks Peter! eBay master!? Awww, you're too much! :oops:

You didn't by chance buy my scooter did you??? The name on the buyers account isn't yours, but the strange thing is, it's going to Eden Prairie, MN!! I am delivering it to Iowa City this Saturday, then I get to go get the bike! :yay:

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:33 am
by cjensen
tshort wrote:Lookin' good, Chad.

What are you going to do for lenses? Why did you make the cutout a different shape?

Thomas
I already bought the lenses (Duckworks) from Van's. The cutout is an arbitrary shape, so I thought I'd make it different than the standard square-ish shape. I talked to Van's about it, and they said there is no problem as long as it's round or the corners are round. Just did it to be different. :grin:

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:35 am
by cjensen
Womack2005 wrote:Chad, feel free to fly on up here. We have dumpsters full of scrap AL :mrgreen: Or I could send you some.
Will, I'm gonna check around today to see what I can find locally, but I may take you up on sending me some. I'll call you later if I need some. I'll pay the shipping, and I only need about 26", or two pieces of 13".

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:14 am
by Womack2005
Chad, No problem - let me know :)

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:03 am
by RV7Factory
Will, while you are dumpster diving for Chad, if you come across anything that looks like this, please put it aside for me. :mrgreen: :P

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Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:15 am
by Womack2005
:lol:

Nice try - I already found one of those, but wasn't sure what it was at the time and it got thown out :( Figures 8)

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:15 am
by cjensen
Well, I found some good, clean .025 sheet that I cut in to strips, then bent to make angle out of it. This will work great! Thanks for the offer anyway Will!
8) If you still feel like diving in the dumpster, have someone take some pics!! I'd love to see that! Dumpster diving can be fun, if done properly, and precautionary measures are taken! :lol: :o

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:31 am
by papakeith
What a cool project. looks like you are doing some nice work.