Earthstar Forums

So when will we see all of the go fast mods that Kess has no doubt been working on all winter?
Fred

Nothin goin on right now. My next project is the other landing light in the right wing-tip. I have to choose between a 50 watt LED, or a 35 watt HID. So far, the HID seems brighter through a projector lens, (from a late model car headlight bucket),, but the LED is also really bright. Oh what fun bench testing these things. My time has also been really tight, and my airport time is in the air when I get the chance. Our little planes are such fun to fly, and you can get to distant places quite fast, unlike some other much slower planes. I also like flying in the shitty bumpy air in the winter, that way my skills are still sharp when I go out for a summer morning flight, then have the afternoon get bumpy and knarly coming back home. Also, flying out to the San Juan Islands can be a bumpy ride on final approach due to the prevailing winds, so practice is good.

Hi Kess,

I purchased an lED from Duck Works
( http://duckworksav.com/WTLightKits.html#WT_Rnd_LED ) and it seems brighter than I expected and only draws 1 amp. The light sells for $95 and the mounting kit is $35 if needed. It's going to work just fine on the Odyssey. I almost spent big bucks on an Aveo Max, I'm confident this will work just fine.

I'm not sure if I will install it in the wing tip or nose. Has anyone come up with a lense to fit the wing tips? I was thinking to dress up the wing tips I could make a fiberglass perimeter to cover the lense that tapers into the wing tips.


Gary

I used .035 Lexan, and it bends real nice to wrap around the wing tip. See my landing light photo’s in Kess’s pictures. I cut the opening first, then made the metal backing plate inside with riv-nuts, then fastened the cover to it. I then took off the wing tip to fabricate and mount the rest of the light bracket. While the wing tip was off, I slid the wiring into the wing inside a small diameter plastic tube call Pex, and is sold in the plumbing departments in 10’ sections, and is light. Because it is bendy, I slipped it with the wire already inside into the wing through the lightening holes to the aileron push-tube hole using a 10’ piece of conduit. At mid-point I attached the tube with a cable clamp, working through the inspection hole under the wing. Easy deal.

kb

Hi Gary
Kess did a real nice job on his lighting system you should have a look.
If I was going to put the lights in the wing tip this is what I would do.
Take the tips off and locate where the lights should be. Now pull a mold from this area using paster paris. (you could make a dam with plasticene, like a fence to contain the plaster as you pour it in)Now that you have the mold slowly bake out all water until bone dry.
There are many places on the net that show how to form clear plastic parts using the heat of your oven. I know it sounds like a lot of work but the end result would be that the lens covers would look like thet grew there.
Hope this helps.
Fred

Thanks Fred, I'll look into this. My wingtips aren't finished yet so now would be the time.

I also traced out the airfoil on a piece of 2” foam while the wing tip was off, and it was handy keeping the shape to the wingtip when off the plane for getting the inside bracket done for the light itself. On my installation, I did the plastic, (Lexan), wrap-around using .035 material. Bends real nice, and if you take your time on the inside flange you have to make, and make the plastic the exact size of the opening, it will fit nice and smooth. I looked at the Duck Works light, and it seems a little spendy, but not as much as Whelen. In as much as you have to make the inside bracket from scratch, there are a lot of inexpensive choices

Thanks Kess