Top Flite Cessna 182 Skylane

[kdoughty]

Yes I know it's been a long time, but time flies when you're having fun!! I had to sort thru all the hardware after 6 years. I hope I can remember where it all goes.

[kdoughty]

I worked on the landing lights. The cowl just had two holes where the lights would have been. I got the ideal of using "Harbor Freight" Flash lights as I had about 10 of them I got for free with purchase. The flash lights have a reflector with nine LED lights the same size as the hole in the cowl. They use three AAA batteries for a total of 4.5 volts. I will be using a 6 volt battery in the Cessna. I tried them on a 6 volt battery and it burned of a couple of the LEDs , so that didn't work. Then I tried them in series which supplied each set of lights with 3+ volts. They worked fine with that set up. Next I had to figure out how to mount them behind the holes in the cowl. I used 3/4 PVC pipe and made mounts to hold the light reflectors with the LED lights, and then epoxied them to the inside of the cowl. I used Hot glue gun to put a couple of spots of glue to hold the LEDs in place so I could easily remove them if I every needed to replace them. All in all , it turned out alright. The lights are very bright.

Here's the pictures.

[kdoughty]

I worked a little on the tail cone with it's light and wiring. I also took a picture of the connection of the control rods in the tail. That finished the Tail end of the fuselage Next I need to work on the fuel tank and fuel line to the engine and other items related to the engine .

[kdoughty]

I worked on installing the tank , fuel lines and checking the Cowl fit.

[kdoughty]

All that room on the interior is for the interior kit. I have the Kit , but it's kind of flimsy. If I use it, it's going to take some engineering to make it work!!!

[kdoughty]

I had the signage made for the Cessna. Debot suggested I use Fast Sign, so I looked on the internet to find where they were located . I found out there was two of them, one north and one south. I picked the south because it was closer. I told them what I needed and they worked up a price for me. That was when I had a heart attack. The price was $167. I told him that was way to much. He suggested I check with the north store as they were smaller and could cut them in store instead of sending it of to the main office. So I went to the north Fast Sign. The first price they came up with was about $90. I told them that was still more than I wanted to spend as I could cut the signs out of Monokote for about$ 12. They worked with me and got it down to $61 . I told them I could live with that and they made them in one day. I figured it was worth that much to not have to cut them out and install them individually. With their sign are installed in one piece .

[kdoughty]

I finished the wiring on the fuselage , and tested the servos . The elevator , rudder, nose gear and lights are working . Next I will be putting on the signage.

[kdoughty]

I got the signage on the fuselage. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Here's the pictures.

[kdoughty]

The surface behind the front windshield is Black, so I made a template and removed the white and replaced it with the black. Next I 'm going to install the side windows so I can start figuring out what I can do with the flimsy interior kit.

[kdoughty]

I have been playing around with interior kit . I don't know how it will turn out , but I'm trying. It would have been a lot better had they used thicker plastic . I going to try to back up the sides and bottom with some foam board. Still a lot of work to make it work , but I guess something inside is better than nothing inside.