My Zodiac

I purchased a Zodiac CH601HD complete kit on 8/1/96. I choose the Taildragger Option (I think it looks cooler on the ground!) for the landing gear configuration. I have not chosen an engine yet, but am thinking strongly about going with a Subaru conversion. I like the higher power of the Subaru over the Rotax 912 (100-118hp, vs 80 for the Rotax), plus Rotax seems to be trying to price themselves out of the market. UPDATED - SEE BELOW

The kit cost $12,600 plus $490 crating plus $376 shipping (to my front door).  I also purchased 7 drill bits, two hand metal snips, the strobe light option, a hand rivet puller, and 100 clekos  (sheet metal clamps) for a grand total of  $13,499.15.

TOOLS

I am using the following tools to build my kit:

A Campbell-Hausfeld 4 hp, 11 gallon air compressor (on sale at Home Base for $199). The hp is good, but the tank size is a little small.

The following air tools: An el-cheapo drill ($29), a Central Pneumatic rivet puller ($54), and a cheap touch-up spray gun ($35). Very glad I got the rivet puller - works great. Zenith Aircraft will modify the heads on your rivet gun to make their 'rounded head' rivets, at a cost of $9 a head.

Many 1/8 and 5/32 clekos. They seem to be cheapest from Van's, at 33 cents per cleko. I currently have 130 1/8 clekos and 40 5/32 clekos, and these were not really enough for the horiz stab. I am also using about 20 3/32 clekos for drilling holes that I know I will be re-drilling later.

PRIMER

I have chosen to use DuPont Variprime (615S with 616S converter) self etching Zinc Chromate primer to prime the insides of my plane. Not really sure why... I guess in the end I just trust the DuPont name over some of the others. Also, my father has used Variprime and DuPont Centauri products for quite a few years with good results. I did have a problem getting the stuff here in Portland due to air pollution laws.

ENGINE

UPDATE 6/18/97: Today I ordered from Zenith the firewall forward kit ($2,950) for the Stratus Subaru EA-81 engine, so I guess I've finally committed myself on the engine. I opted for the Subaru because:

  1. I like the higher power output (100 vs. 80 hp)
  2. The engine is heavier than the Rotax. Most indications I have seen are that the 601, especially a taildragger, are tailheavy. If I'm going to have to add weight to get a reasonable cg range, I'd just assume it was in the form of a more powerful engine.
  3. It is less expensive ($6,890 complete with exhaust system).

I chose the Stratus conversion over others (most notably NSI) because:

  1. I have heard nothing but good things about Stratus and their product
  2. I like the dual HTD belt vs. gear reduction
  3. Stratus doesn't waste money on things that serve no purpose other than to make the engine look pretty, and this is reflected in their price.
  4. Reiner Hoffmann, the owner, has demonstrated his honesty and willingness to help others repeatedly on such forums as the AirSoob mailing list.

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