Shed members not only have a wide range of skills but also needs. Wolfgang has an experimental home built aircraft and identified an opportunity for imporvement with the tail wheel but needed the skills of the Metal Shed.
Original tailwheel assembly on Wolfgang's RV-3 Sports Aircraft.
The before and after photos show the tailwheel modification to the RV-3 sports aircraft. The original tail spring was a conical rod. The down bend was cut off then the last 50 mm of it machined back to a cylindrical shape in order to accept the new wheel and fork assembly. The assembly was then secured with two through bolts to the tail spring.
New tailwheel assembly after modification by the Metal Shed.
The mates in the Metal Shed, particularly Neville and John did the lathe work required. Their beautiful precision work made the subsequent installation very easy and accurate.
The professional Light Aircraft Maintenance Engineers at Gympie Airport were impressed with the work!
The modification works beautifully. It has greatly improved the ground clearance of the fork, made the steering more accurate and lifted the tail a little, allowing for better visibility over the nose when taxying. The tailwheel is now fully castering, making ground handling the plane a breeze.
Thanks guys, you are the best!
The metal shed is assisting a local group to build a "Team Lotus" replica. The program gives young people with disabilities the opportunity to develop skills and confidence to assist with joining the workforce. Free to participants, the activity is funded through the Government Skills for Education (SEE) Program.
The program will run for five months, two days a week and build a replica of the Lotus 119-150. The original Lotus 119 was a soapbox racer reportedly capable of 200mph down a 45 degree slope. The replica will be equiped with a four stroke engine and three speed gearbox.
The starting point for the construction is the chassis which is where the Shed comes in. The provided chassis required modification and the skills of an experienced welder. Conrad, also a motor racing fan, was quick to step forward and has spent a number of hours cutting and rewelding various metal tube conponents.
Our metalwork shed has a wide variety of tools and machinery able to support members in the fabrication of general metal based projects, including repairs and maintenance.
Specifically we have the following capabilities:
- General fitting and fabrication work benches for small projects.
- A wide range of hand tools.
- Metal cutting, drilling and grinding equipment.
- Welding equipment including electric arc, MIG, TIG & oxy-acetylene.
- Cutting, folding & rolling of light gauge sheet metal.
- Precision machining – measuring equipment, lathes & vertical mill.
Members bring in their own projects or contribute to the shed’s activities through construction and repair projects from other sections. We also try to generate a small income from working on small viable projects by members who don’t have any personal projects at the time. We need an income stream to help pay for our basic consumables and improvements.
Members are required to provide their own materials and to make suitable donations for any of the shed’s materials or resources used on personal projects. Charges apply for the use of welding resources.
So come along and meet other likeminded metal workers and create or just contribute to the overall operation of the metalwork shed.
