12/14/2001	The work has begun.  I've spent a major part of the day doing nothing but researching the Moni project I've got out in the garage.  Every rivet was checked, as were the parts they held in place.  I've walked through the construction process of the fuselage, and now see where the previous builder walked away.  The next step will be the modifications to the fuselage to accept the conventional gear system.  Also known as tail dragger.  The multiple parts of the aileron system will keep me very busy for quite some time also.  Brains about fried from spending all day just trying to figure out just where I stand.	8
12/15/2001	Received the plans in the mail today for the tail dragging conversion.  Quickly read, I started putting together an order for parts.  This ain't going to be cheap anyway about it! More time was spent cleaning and checking the areas I will be working on soon.	3
12/20/2001	Started actual work on the airplane today.  I've mounted the stinger fairing with clecos, and riveted one of the turtle deck formers in place.  Much time was spent checking to assure square, and alignment of all components.  The turtle deck was then laid over the formers and clecoed in place.  No, it was not that easy, but no use telling you just how I learned french!?  All the aluminum parts for the aileron linkage system were cut to rough shape.	5
12/21/2001	Finished fitting the turtle deck this morning, and cut holes for the tail feather attachments. After the fitting of tail surfaces, many hours will be spent dimpling holes!   Tail surface skins were then trimmed to allow close seal with turtle deck skin.  I hope to fit the pushrods for the ruddervators, tomorrow, and cut out some more parts for the aileron system.	5
12/22/2001	I first locked the flight stick, and rudder peddles in neutral position.  The rod inserts were then placed in one end of the tail surface pushrods, and installed to the control mixer.  I then carefully measured the two rods needed lengths.  The rods were then cut and assembled and installed on the airframe.  Ruddervators work!  The aluminum tube to be used as the roll push rod, was then cut to specified length, and rod ends fitted.  Next!  The roll link was threaded at each end, and will be mounted at a later time.  Preparing the parts for the aileron bellcrank, I was finding that they were not laying out properly as per the plans.  After some study I see that the square stock installed to support the spar carry through, was improperly placed.  All rivets drilled out, and parts moved, to proper location, and we're back in the moving forward mode again.	4
12/23/2001	The fuselage looking pretty much ready to fly, I now have the pleasure of tearing it all apart, and spending the afternoon dimpling skins, and longerons!  That will give you a cramp in your hand!	2
12/27/2001	All the flight control pushrods, and the control mixer were removed from the airframe. The entire inside of the fuse was scrubbed, and blasted with air to remove many years of aluminum shavings and dirt.  All the flight controls were sanded, and painted to removed extensive surface rust.	2
12/28/2001	All flight controls were reinstalled today, with fresh hardware, and cotter pins.  Pushrods for ruddervators were polished and installed as well.  Boy is this looking nice now!  Check nuts installed behind all Rod ends.  Roll link was loosely fitted to it's roll horn.  Balance of available time was spent assembling an order for parts!  Once parts are in, the aft end of this bird should come together quickly!	2
12/29/2001	Short day in the shop today.  Cut out the two plates to be used for the Roll bar reinforcement.  I also cut and shaped two triangles to support the aileron bellcrank mount under the seat.	1
12/31/2001	Another short day due to the incredible cold for north Texas.  Rough shaping of steel parts were made for the 'carry-thru attach brkt', and aileron torque tubes. Received the wrong material from my last Aircraft spruce order, (this is the best thing about that order)  so I couldn't prepare the actual torque tubes for welding.	1
1/1/2002	Cleaned up and sanded the steel parts today and bent and painted the 'carry-thru attach brkt' to its shape.  All tube parts for the rear spar carry through were cut to length, except the torque tubes.  Rough shaping of the aluminum angles for this area was also done.  All the stacking and drilling to come	2
1/2/2002	Another day, a few more parts!  I welded two of the horns that will be placed on the inner end of the aileron torque tubes.  The two gusset plates for the aileron bellcrank were bent to shape, and clecoed in place.  Other aluminum parts for the aileron torque tube mounting were also cut to shape.  The turtle deck skin was installed to one side, to assure proper positioning  of the turtle deck formers, to allow for the fitting of the roll over structure.  Still waiting on parts!	2
1/4/2002	All aluminum parts pertaining to the aileron torque support/ rear spar carry through were drilled and assembled today.  Now I have some studying to do!	2
1/5/2002	The fuselage was leveled today, to assure the ability to reproduce the area of the roll over structure in jig form.  Many careful measurements were made, and a jig was built.  The upper and lower plates were attached in place, and again measurements were confirmed.	2
1/7/2002	Parts came in today!  I quickly welded up the remaining aileron parts, and the roll over structure tubing.  This structure was bolted in place and clecoed in place at the aft end.  All final bolts and cotter pins were installed into the control mixer.  Using AN eye bolts, a swivel device was made for the rudder cables.  The Turtle deck former at Station was riveted into place.  Other than the Tail wheel cables, the aft end, including the turtle deck is ready to install.	4
1/8/2002	Took the fuselage off the floor today, and put it on saw horses.  All internal parts for the conversion to tail dragger were created, and installed with clecoes.	3
1/9/2002	All external parts of the gear mounting system were cut to length today.  They were then stacked on the airframe with the gear in place, and holes drilled, after great care and measurement.  I then went in search of hardware for bolting down the gear.  Time to order some wheels I guess.	2
1/10/2002	Today, I trimmed up the external parts and bolted down the gear for a trial fit.  All measurements still represent a square and true geometry.  I created mounting brackets for the tail wheel, as to incorporate a spring system.  Having this mounted, I'll be able to size and create the tailwheel steering cables.  Further study has been given to the wheels.  Easy to find a wheel to fit the airframe, but to keep it small enough to fit the supplied wheel pants, and also to have some sort of brakes, is where the challenge comes in.  Leaning towards making my own brakes at this point.	2
1/11/2002	The job for the day is was to confirm all measurements, and pieces of the gear mods, and install them!  All parts were removed, deburred, dimpled as required and reassembled.  With everything bolted and clecoed in place, alignment checked, all parts were riveted in place.  Springs were mounted on the tail wheel mount.  Then of course, the fuse was placed on the floor for the first time on it's own gear!  The roll over bar, was then riveted in place at the control mixer end.	3
1/12/2002	First off, I went out and made springs for the tail wheel steering. Once there were mounted to the Control mixer, I made cables to attach them to the tail wheel horns.  Cable housings were attached to the floor just in front of station 4's bulkhead.  Then the pitot, and static system was installed and run out the back bulkhead.  The nylon tubing was hung from the upper right longeron using tie wrap fasteners.   Then, everything was again confirmed in fuselage back end, that would soon be covered by the turtle deck.  Turtle deck was again installed, and riveted into place. I guess next I'll reinstall the tail feathers to finish the pitot plumbing.	2
1/15/2002	I made a saddle to fit the aft fuselage at station 4, and padded it with pipe insulation.  I then inverted the fuselage to fit the lower fuselage pan below the pilot's seat.  I then mounted a bellcrank bearing on the aileron bellcrank.  A 1/4" hole was then drilled in the bellcrank mounting tube, and an anchor nut mounted to the gusset on the underside.  A flange bushing was then pressed into the roll horn, and then roll horn was mounted with a clevis bolt, and chastellated nut.	3
1/16/2002	Tail cone was re-fit today to accommodate the new tail wheel installation.  A few rivets were drilled out and replaced in the station 5 bulkhead that had missed their mark.  The two aft root ribs were removed in preparation for the replacement with the reinforced type.	2
1/17/2002	After a lot of conversation last evening with Ron Wright, I was able this morning to do the final assembly of the rear spar carry through angle.  I've inspected the wing panels quite closely, and found them for the most part airworthy.  One wing's trailing spar was found the be spliced, and improperly so.  This point will be studied to supply a proper splice.  One pair of the knuckles were removed to be reamed to fit.	2
1/21/2002	I bit the bullet today, and ordered an engine for the airplane.  I'll probably place a new page for it's conversion, and application in the near future.  The above mentioned knuckles were replaced on the wing, to assure proper alignment when they are reamed.  A wasted couple of hours!  The remainder of the efforts today were to install as much of the aileron operation mechanics.  The carry through attach brackets, carry through spar angle, bell crank mounting assembly, bellcrank,  and roll pushrod were bolted, and or clecoed in place and checked for operation.  Mounting and rigging of the aileron torque tubes will also require cutting holes in the outer fuse skin, so I may delay this until the mounting of the wings.	2
1/22/2002	Took some time hanging the tail feathers and rigging the ruddervators, to appear neutral.  Brackets were made for the canopy installation, and tubes cut to length.  Brackets were attached to tubes at all four corners.  Plans are being drawn for wheel axles at this point.  Haven't ordered wheels yet, but what ever is bought, axles will still be needed.  One ruddervator pushrod fairing was clecoed in place just for my entertainment.	2
1/23/2002	Today, I clecoed the instrument panel into place on the canopy frame to allow it to relax to it's original shape before the many years of storage with items piled on top of it. Brackets 12 and 13 were created, and canopy hinge material was cut to length.   The firewall was also clecoed in place, and exhaust tunnel, was cut and bent to shape.  Brackets 12, 13, and the canopy hinge were riveted at their respective locations.    Not building the stock airplane with the KFM 107 now starts causing conflicts with the plans.  Installing hinges etc. to the firewall assumes The current cowling will fit over the engine to be chosen.  The pilot seat was installed and cleaned up.  The pilot was then installed wearing his parachute for fit test.  He fit, and ample amounts of airplane noise was produced!  Inventory was made of parts needs for the next parts order.	4
1/27/2002	Sundays, not much gets done.  I did take the time to pull an ruddervator off, and move the hinge .110".  When the hinges were first installed, there was no accommodations for the thickness of the stabilizer skin.  This made the ruddervator set nearly an eighth of an inch below the best slip stream.  It looks a lot nicer, and faster now.  Details make the difference!	1
1/28/2002	Nice day to run to the airport, so Not much was done on the Moni.  I did try to drill, and install the aileron hinge, but was finding the outcome less than expected.  I got a lot of parts in today.  Wheels,  brakes, tires, tubes, and various other hardware items.  The big item of interest, is the arrival of the Engine!   Look of a new page covering it's conversion soon.	1
1/30/2002	Aileron work today.  After many frustrating attempts to achieve a consistent aileron thickness, I finally created a "aileron jig dog trolley!" that I am able to move down the inside of the aileron as I drill the hinge holes.  Then the most time consuming, and physically trying was the removal of the white plastic wrapping placed on the ailerons before they were bent to shape about 20 years ago!  I finished both ailerons' hinge installations, and fabricated ribs for their ends.  Tip end ribs will be installed tomorrow, root ribs will have to wait for wing installation.	5
1/31/2002	Mainly worked  on the root rib modification today.  Finished about 80% or the right wings work.  Mounting at the main and aft spar is the only remaining parts.  Most parts cut to shape on the left wing, but no work on the actual wing has commenced.  Great depression struck when I, studying the right wing, found a significant warp that would cause the right wing to rise!?  I'm sure there are more crooked airplanes flying out there, but they're not mine!  Pondering corrective action ideas as I write.	3
2/4/2002	Depressing day.  Bit the bullet today, and started dismantling the right wing.  Loosing the skin from the tip towards the root, aft of the main spar, did not bring enough needed movement, without building in internal stress.  Things were forced into position, just to check results, and the trailing edge, that once was bowed, was now straight, but several ribs buckled under the stress.  Repositioning the aft spar attach tab, cured this, but still left too much stress.  At this point, I plan to rebuild my wing jig for the Sonerai and adapt it to square this wing, and continue removing now, the lower skin.	2
2/5/2002	Spent the day at a friends shop, making axles out of 3/4" bar stock.  Flange for brake caliper mounting was welded in place.  Not having die's for the 3/4" x 16 threads, time was spent cutting threads on the lathe.	3
2/6/2002	A few more hours spent at the machine shop, finished up the spacers needed to mount the wheels, and properly compress the taper roller bearings.  Will need to trim the axle length and drill for cotter pin in the future.   Holes will also need to be drilled in caliper flange to take torque loads from brakes, and make the axle a bit more rigid.  I hurried home, to place them on the airframe for my own entertainment to feel as if something has been achieved of late.	2
2/12/2002	Today I spend a bit of time drilling the left gear leg to properly attach the axle, and brake caliper.  The wheel pant mounting plate was also installed along with the axle assembly.  Study was made of brake line routing.	1
2/14/2002	Not much time spent on the toy building today.  I did spend the time to drill the axle mounting hold for the right gear leg.  The rest of the morning was spent thinking through the logistics, and parts needed to go forward with the cowling assembly, brakes, and canopy assembly.	1
2/18/2002	The remains of the needs of the fuselage mainly pertain to the seat restraint, aileron rigging, and canopy.  I did finish the plumbing of the pitot system.  The tail planes were then removed, for ease of travel around the shop. I had to place weight in the aft fuse to keep the little bird from falling over on it's beak.  Two of the gear mount blocks were drilled to allow passage for brake lines.  Excess length of main wheel axles were also cut to proper length.	1
2/20/2002	Cleaned up around the airplane today a bit, and pulled the canopy down from the rafters.  The ABS joggle was trimmed and clecoed in place on the headrest bulkhead.  Since the canopy still has it's protective covering on it, I placed a light in the interior of the airplane, and was able to trace the outline of the cockpit.  I finally got the nerve to cut the aft edge of the canopy to a pretty good approximate shape.  the forward canopy wrap was placed  and traced to the canopy, and here also was cut to a good approximate shape.   I'm having a hard time getting the nerve to cut the lower sides.  I started that direction, but realized just how much difference there could be on the sides, depending on what contour I give to the very front.  I think I'll ponder on it a bit before I do anything rash.	2
2/21/2002	About the second most dreaded part of aircraft construction.  The cutting and fitting of the canopy!  Having a fairly cool morning, the canopy was rather stiff, so I placed a small space heater inside the cockpit and let it heat up before I considered putting any stress through cutting or drilling.  Many passes were made with the dremel cutting tool bringing the canopy shape in line.  Then the drilling began.   When I walked away this evening, I had the canopy completely mounted via clecoes, to the canopy frame.  Even with  all the effort given creating the canopy frame, it seems I may have to shorten the cross member tube at the front.  The back seems fine, however I'm not totally satisfied with the way the canopy lays against the ABS joggle at the bottom back corners.  I did apply higher heat to the front edges of the canopy to get the Plexiglas to lay vertical against the frame tubes.  The forward canopy wrap looks like it will lay out nicely.	4
2/27/2002	Spent a bit more time on the forward canopy wrap around.  I'm not having a good feeling about this. . . .	1
3/23/2002	Back to work!   Just went out today to get my feet wet again, and to force myself to get after finishing up the fitting of the canopy!  I've got it working, but as you will see in the pictures, I'm not real satisfied, but it is functional and the less than perfectness is only visible from one angle when the canopy is closed.  So if you see this bird in public, don't get too close, I'll be forced to open the canopy.	1
3/27/2002	Not satisfied with the work I was seeing on the above pictures, I reapproached the problem with the construction of a completely new front canopy wrap.  Is this one perfect?  Nope, but it is more pleasing to my eye than the previous attempt.  Sure is difficult with out having a forward and rear bulkhead to the canopy, to assure a shape.  I'll study it some more tomorrow.  Frustrated with that, I turned to something else that didn't take a lot of creativity the installation and routing of the brakes lines.  Drilled a hole in the left wheel pant mounting plate and attached the 3/16th brake line, and routed it through the gear mounting blocks into the center tunnel.  This brake caliper system will require a brake line between the two calipers to equalize the pressure between the two cylinders.	2
3/28/2002	More trimming and studying the canopy situation, and have less reservations, thought I'm probably going to be forced to place a couple of angles at the aft bottom corners  to achieve, or maintain the shape of the canopy around the joggle.  The remaining plumbing of the left gear leg's brakes was completed.  Then tired of having to think to achieve anything, I turned to the warped wing to continue the drilling out of rivets.  All rivets aft of the main spar are now removed so wing alignment should be "effortless", but much thought will have to go into the replacement of the rivets to they are secure and aesthetically pleasing.	2
4/2/2002	Ran out of things to do on the Motorcycle, and turned to the important project! Time was spent removing the canopy and doing the final fitting and shaping of the metal parts attaching the canopy to the frame.  Using countersunk rivets, a lot of dimpling took place.  Much time was spent removing the inside protectant of the canopy, and still has not been a total success.  I made great strides here using a air gun, that could get under the minute edges and chip them out.  I'm open to suggestions as to how to get the remaining bit off.  Gusset plates were also created to assist the canopy shape where it meets the joggle.  (these items are of my own creation and are not called out in the plans)	2
4/3/2002	For some reason, I really had to force myself to get to work on the bird today.  I knew what needed to get done, but just didn't want to go ahead and get started.  Found every excuse under the son!  Tossing all aside, lunch included, I headed for the garage.  Further and final shaping of the gusset plates at the canopy rear were completed and riveted into place.  All canopy frame gussets were also riveted into place.  The for and aft cross braces were cut and sleeved to adjust width of the canopy to fit the fuselage better.  Canopy and all metals were replaced and clecoed in place for final fit check.  Canopy was then riveted into place using countersunk flush rivets.	3
4/4/2002	Another make work day.  I made a retaining cable for the canopy so would not swing open too far.  Also did the final riveting on the cowling bottom hinge so it could be removed and work begun on the engine.   I'll have to remove the engine and modify the ignition wiring so it won't conflict with the engine mount.  I also need to assure no contaminants have entered the engine through various areas exposed during the cowling work.	1
4/15/2002	Today I focused on completing the wing root rib modification on the left wing so I can loft it up and out of the way.  I did manage to create all the parts, drill them, and cleco them in place.  About to start dimpling, and I got a call that took me away from the work.	3
4/16/2002	Got after the dimpling today and riveted the supporting strips to the root rib in place.  I would have continued, but found I didn't have any of the proper rivets to mount the rib itself.  It's always something!	1
4/27/2002	I riveted the wing root rib mod assembly in  place on the left wing.  It seems strong enough to stand on at this point!  I'll now move this wing out of the way to allow work on the remaining crooked wing.	1
4/30/2002	Dug out the old wing jig for my Sonerai project and mounted it to the ceiling and floor with great pains to square the structure.  The both spars were mounted to one end, and the main spar mounted at the tip end.  From here, I could see the amount of error at the tip spar.  This was nearly 1 1/2"!  Time will now be spent adjusting the ribs to relax the rear spar to a straight line.	1
5/2/2002	Many more measurements were made today to assure I was to be working with a true wing.  The trailing spar was completely removed.  I finally surrendered to releasing the top skin from the main spar.  This single item allowed all the ribs to fall in line.  A line was stretched through the holes in the ribs as a constant reference.  Now the biggest part of the problem will be how to attach the skin back to the spar, and ribs.  The use of oversized rivets will be needed to accommodate the the holes that are now slightly off center.	2
5/6/2002	Checked and rechecked today, and the drilling began!  All ribs are clecoed to the skins, and spars.  Rechecking all again shows a straight wing!  Now why couldn't the first builder do that for me!? Decisions are still to be made regarding the skin attachment to the main spars.  I will have to go with oversized rivets, but don't yet know if I'll go with 5/32nd, or 3/16th sized.	3
5/8/2002	Dimpled the heck out of the upper wing surface, and ribs today. Again checked alignment  and cleaned the interior of the wing.   Then 95% of all 1/8" rivets (skin to ribs) were installed today, and a couple of the skin to Spar.  Next chance at the project will finish the riveting of the upper surface, and hopefully the bottom surface also.	3
5/16/2002	Finally finished riveting the left wing panel today.  Though not perfectly straight, the wing panel is airworthy.  The panel was then moved to the rafters so work could continue on the fuselage and engine installation.	2
9/22/2002	Hey, I'm back at it a bit!  A friend is needing his tools back, so I had to apply myself this afternoon, and finish the plumbing of the brake system.  After only a few leaks, the brakes actually bled nicely, and operate like a champ!	3
10/5/2002	Spent some significant time, studying, and fashioning a canopy latch system.  At present I'm planning three catch points for the lock.  It will be able to be latched from inside or out, and locked from the outside with a small padlock.   The tabs accessible from the outside will also be used as a handle to raise the canopy as well.  The main part of the latch system is a sliding 1/4" steel rod, inserting through two tabs at each end of the canopy, as well as a least one intermediate catch as well.	3