Adding More Storage to the Zenith CH-750 (Ep24)

[@can5projects563]

hello from Australia. you buddy are a clever man i love the way you are building this awesome plane

[@davidrobins4025]

Very creative way to add some contained storage.

[@tywebb9879]

Mark, very clever modification and really good use of dead space. Great video and you are a real craftsman for a pilot! Lol

[@theworshiptraveler6709]

The boxes for storage look great. Good idea to keep the cockpit cabin neat and organized.

[@umatgreyhound]

Mark, Looks great! There are a few comments about weakening in the bulkhead. Won't the boxes form a carry through for the load? And dude, a cargo pod? Like that thing needs anything to slow it down! I used to fly a Beech 99C. It's like an aircooled VW Bug pulling a drag chute!

[@dsrgarage]

I need this kind of storage!!

[@FlyingShotsman]

You might consider coating the inside of those boxes with white bed liner, for a few reasons. White coating will make it much easier to find any small parts that get lost in the bottom of the box, it will seal the seams so any oil bottle leaks will be contained, and bed liner will protect against scratches much better than just primer or paint. Great idea, by the way!

[@daverobinsonTnT]

The large number of rivets used will make your box leak proof :-) ... a pitch of 8 to 10 D is quite ok. Regarding putting large cutouts in the bulkhead, I'm guessing it's NOT a structural bulkhead ; otherwise* either :- (a) - you'd require structure (Doublers) to direct the load path around the cutouts and into adjacent primary structure or (b) - you'd have to design, build and install the boxes in such a way that they act as primary structure. * By the way, those boxes look to be well designed, well built and well installed, so as to compensate for the cutouts structurally. :-)

[@Know-Way]

Great idea. A place for everything and everything in its place.

[@MichaelLGriffin]

Awesome Idea - I have finally gotten my grubby paws on a 90% complete, 50% done KR2 (3 weeks ago) and this would work well behind the seats! A question if I may; is there a specific reason why the side panels are outside the frame and not on the inside of the L-angles? To my mind, having them on the inside would make the storage box neater looking (no L-angles visible) and stronger as the panels push against the L-angles instead of hanging off the rivets.

[@scotabot7826]

Beautiful metal work Mark, but I'm thinking you're going to need several AN bolts in the storage boxes for structural strength!!! Ha Ha

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

Na, the 25,000 rivets I used to hold this together should be fine LOL!

[@ShamLorena]

Wow. That’s amazing. I wish that I saw this about a month ago I am planning on doing that. Not sure if I will remove the bulkhead or try to do it with out removing it

[@MRJSWORKSHOP]

Nice accessory it was thought out well👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@rocroc]

Thanks - enjoy the project.

[@johnburns9950]

Nice project. Great video as always. An Olfa Knife is a great one step method for cutting that aluminum sheet.

[@bobfindley6949]

Good to see the progress of this build. Thanks Pilotshark

[@RJK50]

Love your build. 9 or 10 G's should do it!! Cheers

[@PapaDougsAdventures01]

How will the addition of these boxes and the possible content change the weight and balance and CG from Zenith’s factory spec? Probably not much but I’m OCD

[@scotabot7826]

He will not put enough weight in them to make any difference!!! Will be absolutely nothing to worry about, unless he plans on smuggling gold or silver bricks in them!!!!!!!

[@Uhlfred87]

Thank you for your effort in making these videos. The information helps me a lot. I am currently gathering information about the construction of a Zenith because I am thinking about building a CH 650 Ei (maybe starting next year). Please keep it up.

[@stevensterry796]

When you build multiple airplanes....comes wisdom! 🤩

[@sugershakify]

bead roll the storage doors to stiffen them up without using L angle. They'll be really floppy otherwise

[@dicel87]

I knew we would see some cool mods on the SD build!

[@keithrogers5832]

Great idea and a easy build

[@user-tl5fi9lz9z]

So now Zenith will start offering this as an option for $485?

[@jefish]

Saw the teaser on FB, assumed it was storage boxes, but imagined they'd be in the sides of the fuselage, accessible from outside. Guess I was only half right. :)

[@johnreed8872]

Hey Mark...am I missing something or doesn't the 3rd Seat back go on top of the bulkhead , or do I need to just be patient and see?? Thanks again and Blue Skies!

[@AnonyMous-jf4lc]

I was wondering the same thing too. Must be some way to move the seatback easily.

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

Yes you are correct-the aft seat goes about half way up the aft bulkhead. I positioned the boxes as high as I could on the bulkhead. So for mine, the aft seat will have to be shorter, or it will simply need folded down to access the baggage doors (just like I have to fold down my Cruzer seats to get to the back). Don't forget, these are just meant as a place to carry extra oil, rags, or a first aid kit. Basically, stuff I don't have to access too often. Beats a wing locker anyway! I was actually going to make the extra storage in the wing like the 650, but decided it would be easier to have it inside the cabin.

[@johnreed8872]

Figured it was something like that... great idea and use of " wasted space " I'll be doing something similar to the 750 STOL. I'm thinking about some ' clicky type magnetic latch kind of thing. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration!

[@charliestory8929]

Mark take the 20 ga. door to a sheet metal shop and have the edges beaded and beads rolled on the inside. I don't think it's going to rattle at all. Good job. I'm liking this.

[@mhilderbrand7693]

Good idea! Wonder if I could do something similar with my Cruzer? Should finish up the wings early next month, thanks for the design idea!

[@B_Rod]

Hi Mark - great mod for the Super Duty! From your experience, is there any reason this mod wouldn’t work on the Cruzer or would it make access into the bottom access hole even more difficult?

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

My guess is that it would work, but I'd have to take my large access cover off to verify. I forget how tight things might be back there!

[@mwcar416]

Zenith should be paying you for you ingenuity. This is an option they could add to their kit options and get a few more hundred $ for the kit.

[@williamparker917]

Can't wait for the next video. Oh where did you get that roll of aluminum from?

[@johnpetriew3418]

where did you get your riveter /dimpler tool?

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

I'm not sure. Any of the aircraft tool supply shops will have it.

[@rickswanberg4995]

Nice idea to keep the cockpit neat and tidy. Just be thoughtful of weight and balance with the boxes so far aft. Also, I liked the videos without music better.

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

Zenith flies with 70 pounds in the back seat for W&B. A few pounds in the boxes is no issue.

[@novicereloader]

What about making a structural chanel in the shape of an "X" to make a door that size more rigid? Like the old Gerry cans.

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

Bryan-I did mention doing that in the video, but even if I did I still think .020 is too thin for the door. So I need to order thicker aluminum for the doors. Even with the thicker alum I still might have to add some type of support to the door-we’ll see.

[@novicereloader]

My bad. I guess I missed that.

[@foesfly3047]

I'm shopping for a benchtop bandsaw like you have in your shop. Have you found this small one is sufficient, or would you choose something larger and more powerful if buying today?

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

This one works great for 95% of what I do. There are time when I wish I had a larger one.

[@justinb8973]

Hey man I love what you do. How often do you fly that cruiser?

[@littlewingpsc27]

Your not concerned about possibly changing the structural integrity of the bulkhead with this mod? Will having weight in those boxes and possibly it moving around in flight, put other stresses into that area of the plane's structure that may not be accounted for in the mounting of that bulkhead to the fuselage? No concerns about having to beef up the rivet sizes where this bulkhead mounts to the fuselage? I'm no aircraft frame engineer, but have you considered running this mod by Zenith to make sure you aren't changing the strength of this part or some structural dynamic? Do you have sufficient clearance to get the hinge rod in? Do you have sufficient upper or lower clearance to ever remove the hinge rod if needed once the bulkhead is installed? What will prevent that rod from sliding out once vertical and under way?

[@bigmanue2291]

Great idea for use of empty space. My only question is does this reduce the strength of the bulkhead?

[@danielbasovitch5087]

Why did you make 2 small ones instead of 1 large one, with 2 doors? Do you need to calculate this for CG?

[@alkite4029]

Go to Tap Plastic they will cut the doors to size and you will be able to see inside.

[@orbitalair2103]

9gs !! hahaha, good one.....

[@thomaselliott9982]

Mark, what is the longest bend you have ever needed to make on a Zenith airplane with a sheet metal break? I want to add a break to my shop but don't want to buy too much or too little. Thank you.

[@KitplaneEnthusiast]

Depends on what you're doing. I don't I've need to bend anything over about 8".

[@thomaselliott9982]

@@KitplaneEnthusiast thank you so much.

[@tizwicky]

Do you want to sell your Hummel H4 plans ?