Bidule 170 Len's Thread

[lenb]

Since the original build thread was on the previous version of the forum, I thought I would put together a brief assembly thread on my Bidule 170/180
She's been in service for since late July of this past season (2015) and has acquired right around 85hrs of flight time since.

[lenb]

Assembly was very straight forward, one of the easiest ever actually. Very few modification were needed to get this tug ready for front line service. A few simple changes were made initially, and some supports added.

The power setup for my Bidule is the ZDZ 180 motor, with JMB canisters and thick aluminum headers. Prop choice is a three blade Mejzlik carbon fiber with a Dave Brown spinner.
Fuel tank is Dubro 100oz and an 8oz header tank. This allows for aggressive down lines without fuel starving the motor and dead stick landings!




~ Added tri-stock around the cockpit edges and anywhere I could reach to increase the glue surface where the structure comes together.
~Tri-stock was added to the firewall too.
~Throttle and choke servos were installed up front
~A header fuel tank was installed under where the main tank would sit. The servo next to the tank is the steering servo, which later gets replaced.

[lenb]

Typical approach

[lenb]

Fuel tank setup, I also made holes for the ignition wires to exit the fuse, then installed a grommet for looks and protection against chaffing.

[lenb]

Returning to base

[lenb]

Fitting the cowl was pretty easy, although it did require making a flange on the inside of the cowl after splitting it. This was accomplished by using duct tape on the side I didn't want the fiberglass to stick to ( it acts as a release tape) and then carefully clamping and taping the cowl together, add the fiberglass flange, after it cured, pull the pieces apart and you have a split cowl.
For an EXCELLENT way to do this, look at Scott's thread, "California Bidule's" post 32 http://forum.scalesoaring.com/forum/...bidule-s/page3

[lenb]

Bob's on landing

[lenb]

The headers and canisters were added, but the mounts in the pictures were abandoned for a rear only mount which has worked out very well.

[lenb]

This plane LOVES to flair

[lenb]

The nose wheel steering was a problem initially. The steel (thats being polite) angle arm attached to the nose wheel for steering bent every time out. Finally it was time to replace it. BobM was luckily just putting his together and sent me a nice custom cut 1/8" thick piece of angle. With minor effort, the new steering arm was installed and has never bent since.

Check out Bob's comments on this at post 34 http://forum.scalesoaring.com/forum/...dule-170/page3

[lenb]

Up Up and AWAYYYYYYYYYYY

[lenb]

After completing the wing servo installation, cutting a hole in the rear covering to get inside and make darn sure the bolt pad is secured and finding a spot for the tail weight to go ( more on that later) competing the tail group and bolting the front lower gear attachment all the way through, it was time to balance and run the plane.

I ended up adding about 16oz to the tail, mostly because the motor is pretty heavy.
I did some tail strengthening too at the front attach point. Check out Jims thread for more on that too. http://forum.scalesoaring.com/forum/...thread-by-jimd

Later, after a few hours of towing, I was decided to add another set of bolts to the front hatch system, so while I was at it, I added flat black vinyl to the top. I love the look.

Also, the instructions call for mounting the rudder servos to the rudder servo covers, BAD IDEA.... The plastic cover is so brittle it fell off the bench and shattered into pieces. Instead, I made a plywood plate and attached the servo to it, then glued the cover to the plate. Worked perfect. Another way to do it is outlined in Jims thread.

[lenb]

We not scared of no Stinkin storm!!!!

[lenb]

Next up,
The nose wheel steering servo saver development

[Stew2]

Hurry up, I'm on that step now and can't remember half of it...