A week-ago thread about the new 715-1 wing tips got into discussing leading edge (Duckworks) vs. Van's new tip light kit that fits the -1 tips. All comparisons were conjecture. Now I have some actuals.
History: Duckworks in my -7 are adequate. But like, horse power, more is better! I substituted a 100 watt halogen bulb for the 55w standard on the right wing, aimed for level attitude/landing. The left is aimed low and toward centerline for taxiing. I happen to have two Duckworks kits on the shelf ready to install in the current project (another -7), when the wing tip thread showed up, and I have the new -1 tips. Decisions, Decisions. I called Van's. Scott said that the tip lamp set-up would be shadowed by the position/strobe unit, and he opined that Duckworks would put more light on the pavement, but given that Van's had two lamps per tip, each 75w and individually aimable, they should be comparable or better, 2 x 55w vs. 4 x 75w as sold.
They aren't.
I ordered a Van's kit to see what it looked like. After examining it, I had questions, and another call to Van's got a different person who said that they have not installed this kit in any aircraft, so do not know how it would work in service. All Van's did was install it in a wing tip in the hangar, thinking that so many builders were rolling their own tip installation, Van's may as well offer something "that works". An interesting side comment was "they're used mostly for identification." Oh, really!?
My examination of the kit raised two concerns: shadowing and strength. Shadowing would come, not just from the strobe/position unit, but also from the face plate mounting the lamps. The lamps are recessed because of the slant of the tip face, yet set directly in line with the oval (again, because of the slant) cutout with a minor dimension equal to the lamp diameter. Should you want to adjust a lamp downward, especially a concern for a tail dragger, it would begin to illuminate the back side of the mounting plate, no longer shinning entirely through the hole. The strength issue is because much of the span-wise tip face is removed, leaving a 1/4" flange around the cutout. That greatly weakens the tip, not fully recovered by the face plate being held in position by a few screws. Not a big issue, though, unless someone pushes on the tip, but it is undeniably weakened.
Stepping out into the pasture with battery, DW, and Van's, this evening produced these observations.
Duckworks uses a driving light (I'm seen the exact units in a car parts store) with a rectangular reflector. Removing the glass diffusor, per DW instructions, and the 55w bulb projects a concentrated oval beam, about 18" x 12" at 8', with no halo. The shape is important because it will be projected at an angle to the ground, so the narrow vertical dimension of the beam won't get smeared over too much ground. Remember, it's designed as a driving light. At dusk, objects 100 yards away are brightly illuminated. Colors are very discernable. Holding the diffuser in place produces - an automotive headlight pattern. Gee. Who'd a'thought.
Van's lamps have a bit of a hot spot in the center, but overall the light is widely dispersed in a round pattern. The outcome is that beyond 25 yards, objects are not brightly illuminated, colors are mushy. Again, this is a 75w lamp. It's added power is spread thin. Two lamps won't add much to what you see.
The whole point is to throw bright light a good distance down the runway. For this a 55w Duckworks blows away a 75w Van's. For taxi, install the DW diffusor on the left side (I did on the -7). Van's would be excellent for taxi; landing, um, you'd get out an expletive before hitting the moose. DW, you'd also be able to go around. Combined with my concern about shadowing of the Van's installation, and the fact they haven't actually flown it, Duckworks gets my money.
John Siebold
Boise, ID
History: Duckworks in my -7 are adequate. But like, horse power, more is better! I substituted a 100 watt halogen bulb for the 55w standard on the right wing, aimed for level attitude/landing. The left is aimed low and toward centerline for taxiing. I happen to have two Duckworks kits on the shelf ready to install in the current project (another -7), when the wing tip thread showed up, and I have the new -1 tips. Decisions, Decisions. I called Van's. Scott said that the tip lamp set-up would be shadowed by the position/strobe unit, and he opined that Duckworks would put more light on the pavement, but given that Van's had two lamps per tip, each 75w and individually aimable, they should be comparable or better, 2 x 55w vs. 4 x 75w as sold.
They aren't.
I ordered a Van's kit to see what it looked like. After examining it, I had questions, and another call to Van's got a different person who said that they have not installed this kit in any aircraft, so do not know how it would work in service. All Van's did was install it in a wing tip in the hangar, thinking that so many builders were rolling their own tip installation, Van's may as well offer something "that works". An interesting side comment was "they're used mostly for identification." Oh, really!?
My examination of the kit raised two concerns: shadowing and strength. Shadowing would come, not just from the strobe/position unit, but also from the face plate mounting the lamps. The lamps are recessed because of the slant of the tip face, yet set directly in line with the oval (again, because of the slant) cutout with a minor dimension equal to the lamp diameter. Should you want to adjust a lamp downward, especially a concern for a tail dragger, it would begin to illuminate the back side of the mounting plate, no longer shinning entirely through the hole. The strength issue is because much of the span-wise tip face is removed, leaving a 1/4" flange around the cutout. That greatly weakens the tip, not fully recovered by the face plate being held in position by a few screws. Not a big issue, though, unless someone pushes on the tip, but it is undeniably weakened.
Stepping out into the pasture with battery, DW, and Van's, this evening produced these observations.
Duckworks uses a driving light (I'm seen the exact units in a car parts store) with a rectangular reflector. Removing the glass diffusor, per DW instructions, and the 55w bulb projects a concentrated oval beam, about 18" x 12" at 8', with no halo. The shape is important because it will be projected at an angle to the ground, so the narrow vertical dimension of the beam won't get smeared over too much ground. Remember, it's designed as a driving light. At dusk, objects 100 yards away are brightly illuminated. Colors are very discernable. Holding the diffuser in place produces - an automotive headlight pattern. Gee. Who'd a'thought.
Van's lamps have a bit of a hot spot in the center, but overall the light is widely dispersed in a round pattern. The outcome is that beyond 25 yards, objects are not brightly illuminated, colors are mushy. Again, this is a 75w lamp. It's added power is spread thin. Two lamps won't add much to what you see.
The whole point is to throw bright light a good distance down the runway. For this a 55w Duckworks blows away a 75w Van's. For taxi, install the DW diffusor on the left side (I did on the -7). Van's would be excellent for taxi; landing, um, you'd get out an expletive before hitting the moose. DW, you'd also be able to go around. Combined with my concern about shadowing of the Van's installation, and the fact they haven't actually flown it, Duckworks gets my money.
John Siebold
Boise, ID
CJ
