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Carl Bells RV7A N947CB
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Date: 1-9-2008
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Number of Hours: 3.00
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Manual Reference: None
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Brief Description: Empenage intersection fairing
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I bought the Fairings Etc empennage fairing because I wanted a fairing that wraps around the leading edge and can be held in place without the 15-20 screws shown in the plans on the stock unit. I was hoping it would fall in place and work without modification, but it wouldn’t, didn’t and won’t. Ugh.
The first picture shows the issue, the circumference where the fairing goes against the fuselage is just too big. Everything else fit very nicely. I know there are some variances from plane to plane, but my stabilizer and vertical fin mounted exactly per the plan dimensions on a QB fuselage, with no shims on the vertical stabilizer required and the ¼’ inch offset is perfect. So, I’m convinced the mould for the fairing in not right for the fuselage circumference. The net is I decided to split the fairing to remove the extra material and get the fairing to fit tightly against the fuselage. This will mean a lot of extra finishing work, but it seems everyone that I have talked to about this fairing has had fit problems and had to make some mods. I laid a couple of layers of 8oz. glass on the outside after sanding and will use a flox filet and 2-3 more layers on the inside to get the structure right. Then it’s filling and sanding time, oh boy! For other builders, in my mind if you use the stock unit and don’t mind many screws to hold it down, just do it and let it go. For the few guys that want a better fit, a few screws in the back and bottom and a wraparound on the stab, then understand there is a price to pay along with many hours to get it right.
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Out of the box
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After splitting
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Laying flat
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