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-   -   Fairings-Etc tail fairing (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=122781)

sahrens 02-14-2015 05:40 PM

Fairings-Etc tail fairing
 
Here are the images of the tail fairing I received from Bob at Fairings-Etc. My first trim took an 1/8" and my second trim slightly less. I think the images speak for Bob's work.







For those that don't know Bob is retiring. His business is for sale, but with or without sale he is shutting down in June. So if you want his tail fairing or intersection fairings now is the time to order.

bret 02-14-2015 06:05 PM

WOW! I could have saved a month.

BillL 02-14-2015 07:26 PM

Nice, how does the fairing geometry look around the elevator tube in the back?

sahrens 02-14-2015 08:00 PM

I don't have a photo but I will take one tomorrow and post it.

gfb 02-14-2015 09:48 PM

So far from needing this but... How is the vans fairing in comparison? How much do these cost? Worth getting now if I won't need it for a year or so?

Snowflake 02-14-2015 10:59 PM

With all the good comments i've heard over the years about Fairings etc. fairings, and all the complaints i've seen about the factory ones, I wonder if the factory should buy the molds from Fairings etc. when Bob retires?

sahrens 02-15-2015 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfb (Post 959354)
So far from needing this but... How is the vans fairing in comparison? How much do these cost? Worth getting now if I won't need it for a year or so?

I worked and worked on the fairing from Van's. Many hours into it I realized I had many hours to go. I decided the cost of the Fairings-etc fairing was significantly less than the cost of my time fixing the supplied fairing. Check his website for the price, but mine was $250.00 plus shipping.

alpinelakespilot2000 02-15-2015 08:59 AM

My vans fairing actually fit pretty darn good right out of the box. Taped over the aluminum and back filled the few gaps with micro and I saved $250. Just one data point.

sahrens 02-15-2015 04:25 PM

Elevator photos
 
As requested here are two photos around the elevator




rightrudder 02-15-2015 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000 (Post 959420)
My vans fairing actually fit pretty darn good right out of the box. Taped over the aluminum and back filled the few gaps with micro and I saved $250. Just one data point.

I've done an initial test fit with the Van's-supplied piece and it's pretty decent. Maybe they're using a different supplier or mold these days?

BillL 02-16-2015 05:52 AM

Thanks
 
Thanks for the extra pictures, Scott!

N941WR 02-16-2015 07:01 AM

One tip. Making a custom inspection plate and cutting off the tabs on the rear of the fairing makes removing the fairing much easier and reduces the risk of scratching things back there.


(Click to enlarge)

N941WR 02-16-2015 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000 (Post 959420)
My vans fairing actually fit pretty darn good right out of the box. Taped over the aluminum and back filled the few gaps with micro and I saved $250. Just one data point.


Two data points, mine also fit pretty darn good.

bruceh 02-16-2015 10:22 PM

I had a few issues with the fit of the Van's fairing, but overall with just a few tweaks, cuts, patches, heating and filling it now fits perfectly. Photos of the process here.

ccrawford 11-08-2016 01:23 PM

I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious to know if anyone has figured out why the Fairings Etc tail fairing fits great on some -7s and not so great on others.

I'm in the process of fairing up my empennage, but the right side of the Fairings Etc fairing will take a *lot* of hacking to get it to fit. Left side fits really well, so I'm not sure why the right side is so far off?

Its so far off I had to go back in the plans to make sure I didn't accidentally put the vertical stab's 1/4" offset in the wrong direction!

**** fiberglass.. between this and the cowl my build would have been done ages ago.


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