Rollin' my own landing lights

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:24 am

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-

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.

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

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

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:53 am

Chad, I REALLY like it!!!

That is GREAT!!!

Good design! Keep us posted!

CJ

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:08 pm

Way to go Chad! They look great!

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

Sorry.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:32 pm

RV7Factory wrote: Ooops... at one point wasn't I supposed to get you some dimensions? Sorry.

Well...I think so, but no worries! I figured that one out pretty easily.

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!)

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:02 pm

Thats what I was thinking from looking at the pics Chad. It looks rather flimsy as is. What thickness AL did you use?

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:20 pm

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!

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

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:26 pm

Right on donkey kong

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:26 pm

Okay, here are some pics of the stiffeners I made tonight. I think they'll work great now...

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...

There's gotta be someplace local...

N200PF · Post by **N200PF** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:04 pm

Chad tose look GREAT!!! You should start selling them you eBay master you! (did ya get the bike yet?!?)

- Peter

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:10 pm

Lookin' good, Chad.

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

Thomas

Lorin Dueck · Post by **Lorin Dueck** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:35 pm

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

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:00 am

Chad, feel free to fly on up here. We have dumpsters full of scrap AL

Or I could send you some.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:30 am

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!

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!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:33 am

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.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:35 am

Womack2005 wrote:Chad, feel free to fly on up here. We have dumpsters full of scrap AL 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".

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:14 am

Chad, No problem - let me know

RV7Factory · Post by **RV7Factory** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:03 am

Will, while you are dumpster diving for Chad, if you come across anything that looks like this, please put it aside for me.

Womack2005 · Post by **Womack2005** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:15 am

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

Figures

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:15 am

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!

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!

papakeith · Post by **papakeith** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:31 am

What a cool project. looks like you are doing some nice work.

RivetBangers.com

Rollin' my own landing lights

Rollin' my own landing lights

Cool!

Re: Cool!