07
The Canadian HM-8 Replica
Project--Page 7
by
- 2004.May 19
3 weeks without writing on this diary, but we kept working at our retired people pace.
What is new in our construction?
Nothing very impressive, as everything is always longer to build than planned.
-Wing: Had to be sanded and varnished, just a few thousands brush-strokes. During this operation, some details were found which needed gluing and adjusting. The leading edge and the wing tips had to be prepared for covering with the ply-wood, work reserved to André Létourneau and his cabinet-maker skill. Paul Fournier and Claude Martin adjusted the ailerons hinges on the wing and positioned the ailerons control hardware.
Jean-Pierre Gagnon was also often around, helping everyone.
-Engine turtle deck and instrument panel. Patterns were made and the fuselage was prepared to allow an easy assembly and dismantling when needed. The front of the fuselage was shaped to fit an aluminum rounded plate. Paul Fournier works at home in his workshop to prepare the aluminum parts, engine cowling etc.
-Pilot seat: André Létourneau and I prepared 1/8" plywood plates for the back and the bottom of the seat cushions. I brought them home, varnished them and fitted them with dowels (to prevent the seat cushion from moving on the seat). I brought these parts to my village's saddler who covered them with comfortable leatherette cushions. Very clean and professional job.
-Empennage covering. An excellent builder/pilot, Renald Martin, member of the Louiseville Balerit crew, did, together with Claude Martin and myself, the final taunting and Poly-brush varnishing of the empennage. Adjusting fabric straight grain strips over each rib and circling the horizontal and vertical tail with bias bindings was long and difficult, but very rewarding for the 3 of us when we saw the final look.
More and more, as the construction of the avionnette advances, visitors show their interest and offer their help. They obviously find the original line of the plane and its historical character most appealing.
Remark: We are now in touch with Bob Cornwell who is also building a HM-8 on the other side of the world. It is a pleasure to exchange ideas and plans with him. He is using the same high performance airfoil, very close to the rounded nose airfoil Mignet shows on his book, but preferred the rectangular wing.
- 2004 May 26
During the week, André Létourneau covered the straight part of the leading edge with plywood. It was not easy and we realize that it would have been much easier to use birch ply-wood instead of Okoumé. However, it is now too late and the final result is beautiful. Just more work for André. The embedding of the gas tank was very delicate, he says.
Paul Fournier brought with him the aluminum engine cowling, the front turtle deck and the instrument panel he made at home during the week. He made beautiful brushed round patterns on the aluminum, just like Lindbergh did on the "Spirit of St-Louis". He adjusts everything with Claude Martin. They make some alterations and adjustments, especially around the cabane members. Nice looking job.
Both of them plus Jean-Pierre Gagnon also work on the ailerons controls.
André Létourneau and Jean-Pierre Gagnon work on the wing tips D-Cell, a very delicate job which should be completed during the week. It looks totally messy when it is in process, but we know that the final look will be perfect.
The occasional help we get from people such as Jean-Pierre, Renald Martin and René Mercier is really appreciated and helps us to keep up to schedule. Claude Martin who was supposed to be just an occasional helper became a fully committed partner. The experience he is accumulating during the HM-8 construction will allow him to build his HM-380 without any difficulty.
- 2004 May 31
I receive a call from André Létourneau. During the week-end, he completed the wing D-cell and the wing tips. He seems to be very satisfied of himself.
The wing is now ready for a last adjustment of the ailerons controls and for fabric covering.
It seems that, after the local TV, the History channel is interested in the HM-8, within the scope of a broadcast on aviation history. They should call me back for an appointment a coming Wednesday.
