Jon Matcho

From the screen used to upload your avatar, it says, "Note: The maximum size of your custom image is 80 by 80 pixels or 19.5 KB (whichever is smaller)." Send me your file and I'll bring it down to 80x80 using the most technologically advanced methods possible (Adobe Photoshop). You could do it using Microsoft Paint (ships with Windows), but its compression algorithm is horrendous.

I didn't think so. That's what I initially heard/thought, but it seems like they're trying to hide this fact (?), perhaps to support the $30,000 tag. Works better for me if it is, but still less so than giving someone $20,000 (WAG) to build an aviation rotary for me. Time will tell. In the meantime there's the matter of an airframe to build... I can't wait until the weather warms up.

I have no reason to doubt that they're not using Mazda rotary cores, although I have to wonder why. This is less appealing for me, since you'd have to find a Mistral engine specialist to service the engine. I suppose you'll be able to find a technician at the same place where the Enterprise gets its warp drive dilithium crystals serviced. Relative to a brand new Lycoming, the pricing is essentially the same once you add the PSRU ($38,450). There's also the cost for the engine mount, which I'd expect for them to provide a stock part for common planes, but not for canards. I can't imagine trusting the 3,000 TBO estimate until they're in production for several years. I wouldn't fly this engine, but will consider a Mazda-based rotary engine package if one will exist in a few years. Regardless, I will always root for any business that's providing alternate engine choices.

Google this: "Fein MSX-636-2START Multimaster Start" I would recommend the 'start' model, because it's cheaper without the variable speed and many find that they don't use anything but the high setting. It shines when used with a high speed steel cutting blade to cut through layers upon layers of cured epoxy safely and with minimal mess/dust.

Congratulations -- an excellent choice if I do say so myself. It's a long story, but Cozy Mark IV plans are available from www.aircraftspruce.com (www.cozyaircraft.com) and Aerocanard FG/SB plans (essentially modified/enhanced Cozy Mark IV plans) are available from www.aerocad2.com. www.aerocad.com is the Aerocanard kit manufacturer. I wanted the same exact thing -- a wider rear seat in the Cozy Mark IV, so in addition to Cozy plans, I purchased Aerocanard FG plans to get their modifications for a wider rear seat. There are two practical options as I see them: buy Cozy plans from Aircraft Spruce, become a Cozy builder, and buy Aerocanard FG plans to get the rear seat modification, or buy Aerocanard FG plans and hang with the Cozy/Aerocanard crew. You'll get all the help you need from this forum and www.cozybuilders.org Keep in mind that dollars here should not be a consideration -- do what feels right for you (as long as that includes a canard design).

Rich, one could hardly call you a newbie. Congratulations on your purchase and welcome! It's good to see the SX version of the Aerocanard in production. I'm not sure if one has ever flown with that canopy option. I don't need to tell you not to eat the epoxy, but forget that 3:00 AM business -- get the Fein MultiMaster tool and NEVER EVER worry about timing a knife trim. This tool will save you substantial amounts of time. Welcome!

There's nothing special about those bags in what they could do for layups. I would imagine that pressing a squeegee over them would cause them to stretch and cause all sorts of annoying behavior. I use 6mil plastic, and you could use 3mil to get more bend. The best approach to address compound curves is to vacuum bag. Along the lines of the cheap 'pressure bagging' technique, we now have the low pressure vacuum bagging technique which I use whenever I can.

Here's a link: http://www.homebuilt.org/kits/littner/cp150.html All canards are interesting, even the not-so-pretty ducklings.

I didn't mean to come across that way at all. All I mean to say is that you can provide all the external sources in the world, but I personally do not see the need to go out of one's way to qualify the membership here. Readers can think for themselves. www.cozybuilders.org http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canard-aviators www.ez.org ...

Now I'm concerned about humidity in the shop. I'm measuring 30-40% with the outside at 15F. I can see running a dehumidifier now to keep things dry. Not exactly what I had in mind for this "vent free" heating system.

Just FYI... I looked up my original purchase w/Amazon on the Web, clicked around a bit, and next thing I saw was "UPS will pick up your return tomorrow. In the meantime we're sending you a replacement." I was relieved it was that easy, but still concerned about the lifespan of the blower. At $45 it was likely a waste of money, and would be better spent on a ceiling fan. We'll see how the replacement performs. I'm running at the lowest setting full-time so the pipes in my bathroom-addition over the garage don't do their annual freezing. In doing this, the garage bay doors (which are of the poorest 25 year old quality possible) are growing ice crystals. I know I need to replace the doors and insulate, but what short-term measures could I put in place so I could get back to doing layups?

Marc, first, thanks for your reply. Second, I agree that there are more flyers participating in the discussion at the Yahoo Canard Aviators and your COZY mail list. I'd appreciate it if you would consider offering your expert advice without qualifying the content of this forum and its membership. New canard flyers are indeed joining this forum, and someday this generation of builders (me included) will catch up. Finally, I've flown in Marc's plane and can confirm that his autopilot setup works nicely.

Already on the list of scheduled todos. I put a shop fan on the floor to circulate the air a bit, and even that raised the temp to ~50F (outside is 14F right now). What I'm upset about is the internal blower accessory died already. I thought it was weak, and hope that the replacement blows much more air. It's clear to me that it's all about the insulation. Definitely need to upgrade with some makeshift measures if I'm going to have a chance at 70F.

My shop heater was installed today. It's been running on the lowest setting (guessing 15,000 BTU) for the past couple hours. The outside air temp is 18F and inside at table level is 45F. I'm happy with that for starters, but will be looking for substantial improvements once I get some good insulation installed in the spring. In the meantime, I'm going to put panels and plastic up over the doors and windows. Hopefully that will get me up to 70 degs or so.

I have the natural gas equivalent of that model, being installed this week. It's rated for "1,000 square feet -- suitable for most 2-car garages". I'll let you know how it performs once fired up.

Carl, thanks for the suggestion, but help me understand this. Do I spray it in, then take the sheetrock down? My plumber friend is supposed to take a look at my garage tomorrow, to see how much material is needed to install my new natgas heater. He previously mentioned "blow-in insulation". I don't need to take all the sheet rock down, just 2 areas: where the builders did a horrific job, and in the area where I noticed a foul smell in the summer I'm getting closer to being back in business...

Shoot, I was just about to "upgrade" our library of smilies. Nudge nudge.

But this forum is the best. I have quantifyable proof to back that statement up as well, so don't even challenge me on that.

A friend has been pushing me that way as well, but I think I'm still going to rip most of it down. I plan to add a 1" strip of wood to the studs so that I can put higher R-value insulation in there. New doors as well, and the heater is being installed... in January I hope (just have to get same friend to help me through tapping into my gas line.

Technically, I consider myself to be building a Cozy Mark IV with Aerocanard FG modifications. Jeff would call this an Aerocanard, but Nat would call it something else. It doesn't matter, really, as in the end I think it will be called the 'Matcho Canard #1'. Will, I also forgot to say, "congratulations!" I think it's great that you jumped in with plans. Let me know if you have any questions on deciphering the rear widening drawings. I had to spend some time on those, as the Aerocanard FG drawings for the rear bulkheads can be confusing as they're nothing more than marked-up Cozy Mark IV drawings. This makes for some confusion over separate drawings for the Aerocanard FG option.

I purchased Cozy IV plans AND Aerocanard SB/FG plans. The Aerocanard plans templates identify specifics on how to plans-build the Aerocanard FG (think it may now be called simply 'the Aerocanard'). I know this for certain, as I've built the widened landing gear bulkheads and compared with Cozy IV plans. <soapbox ON> Download the Aerocanard plans (from www.aerocad2.com) to get a feel for what you'll need to do to build the Aerocanard OR Cozy Mark IV. Buy the Cozy IV plans (there are hundreds of Cozy IV builders and 6 plans-only Aerocanard builders). If you want 3.5+ extra inches in the back, give www.aerocad2.com $200 for this modification. Build per-plans entirely (centric to Cozy Mark IV plans) Optionally, purchase prefab Aerocanard SB/FG or Cozy Mark IV (AKA 'Aerocanard SB') parts from www.aerocad.com (note the missing '2'). Whether you spend $500 or $700 on plans for a $75,000+ airplane is insignificant IMO. Just my $0.02. <soapbox OFF>

Sorry everyone -- my mistake. See the Cozy Web site's Info Pack link http://www.cozyaircraft.com/ for NO mention of a video. I did not order the Info Pack and went straight for the plans. It did include Info Pack material, a video, and the plans. I'm not sure if this is standard, or Nat was just being nice at the time. So... the Info Pack would not appear to be worthwhile to me now that I know the video is not part of it. Sorry!

Daniel, I split this thread off from the "Cozy Door" thread it was attached to (different topic). The info. pack is well worth $10. It comes with a video that I've watched 3+ times, along with some other good information. For an idea what the plans look like, less the full-sized drawings, take a peek here: www.aerocad2.com

No major Cozy progress to report other than getting my shop upgraded to be heated and have new space. I'm in a mission to purge the big junk from my house, and spent the fall on home improvement projects. I have this shop heater waiting to be installed. Hopefully I can get my friend over here to help. The withdrawal symptoms are becoming painful...

That's a good question, but not sure this could be easily answered in the context of an entire plane. For example, the same question applies to vacuum bagging and the extensive use or non-use of peel ply. Reading Wayne's Web page on the topic, he doesn't mention weight at all. He does point out a significant time savings of sandblasting over hand-sanding, suggesting its use for large areas such as the fuselage, strakes, and wings.