A day in Lou's Shop!

[Paul Taylor]

Today Louis Rankin invited a few folks to his house for a day in his shop. I needed help getting my wing in my Akrobat and a few others wanted to run some engines. (Mike had to make sure Zuriel got home on time.)
Lou got out his fuse jig and man I have to get me one of those. He showed me how to get everything lined up in the jig. Sure takes some of the guess work out of it.
Jim Lynch helped Zuriel with his PA 40 on a pipe. After a quick call to Randy, (Great Tech support) they got the information they needed and got the engine fired up and started break in. Sure sounded sweet!
Thanks Lou for opening up your shop and house to us. And the grub was Great! Banjo picking was nice too.

[Paul Taylor]

And my now my Akrobat looks like this....

[Paul Taylor]

A few more photos. Jim repitched some carbon fiber props.

[Bill Little]

Louis and Jim are good guys, I always enjoy seeing them at meets!

Big Bear

[Zuriel Armstrong]

It's always great going over to Lou's.  I agree with Ty, the new shop is much better than the old back bedroom.  

Jim Lynch is one of my heros.  I remember the last contest in Memphis in the 70's when Jim was flying his Bearcat and had his Volunteer there too.  It has always been a driving force in me to build a plane like that and now he is helping me with my planes and engines.  Too Cool!!!

I can also tell you the PA's are fun.  Read the instructions...mount engine on stand...add fuel and glow driver...start it.  WOW!!!

In one of the pictures above I thought it was funy.  Jim, Mike and myself are "Hair Challenged" and Lou is th eonly one with a hat on

Thanks Paul for posting these and I am excited about going to Brodaks in June.  I think you might have mentioned that once or twice?

[Paul Taylor]

Hey Zuriel,
I was good seeing you and Mike yesterday. I was going to post a picture of you pitching a prop but you closed your eyes as I snapped the photo.
Then I got to thinking, maybe he is so good at pitching props that he does it by feel.

Hey did I tell you I was looking forward to going to Brodaks this year?

[Jim Treace]

Lou got out his fuse jig and man I have to get me one of those. He showed me how to get everything lined up in the jig. Sure takes some of the guess work out of it.

Paul,
Great report and looks like your guys had good time together. By the way, that fuse jig looks like the one supplied by Tom Niebuhr at Blue Skys. His web page  http://www.blueskymodels.net/.  I have one and it sure does help make the fues alignment assembly much easier and quicker. Also easy to make any fuse changes while set in the jig. 
Jim

[john e. holliday]

Great pictures and tell him it is too clean.  LL~But, that is one of the fun things abut this hobby/sport.  The great people we get to meet and are so helpful.   

[Steve Kocher]

I have to second the recommendation on the fuselage jig.  I have one as well.  I also nagged George enough that he sold me one of the first of his wing jig attachments that can be added.

I constructed my first airplane using the wing jig this summer.  It is a Brodak profile Zero.  The wing came out perfect.  I have the plane in silver right now.  I'll try to post some photos of the wing jig and the airplane soon.

Steve.

[Michael Brooks]

Sure had a good time! A beautiful day, balsa dust, engine noise, great company all day, and Lou fixed a great pot of soup for lunch. Can't think of much more in the way of fun and relaxing. Guys, thanks! I sure needed the day away from my usual routine.

Mike