This is the main page for the 18SPW project. Click on any area on the left to see the pictures for that section. Clicking on the pictures will give a larger view.
The picture below is of a particularly nice UH-18SPW built by Terry Tousignant. I hope mine looks half as nice!
Feb 17, 2005. UH-18SPW Project. Added reinforcement to the lift fan brackets and to the inside of the seat area to mount the variator.
Oct 27, 2004. UH-18SPW Project. Finished mounting the rudder bottom support and added the rudder tie bar. Lift fan drive belts are ordered and should be in shortly. Then I can mount the variator. It is becoming a real hovercraft slowly but shurely.
Oct 13, 2004. UH-18SPW Project. Mounted the rudders on the tail. It is looking more like a hovercraft all the time and the rudders are finally out from under the bed.
Sept 26 -28, 2004. UH-18SPW Project. Finished making and powder coating the rudder support brackets. Also powder coated the variator control, prop hub and the variator support. The engine mount is done!!!!!
AUG 7, 2004 UH-18SPW Project. Working on rebuilding the Subaru engine. It is now apart. The pulleys are back from the anodizing shop and look great.
July 2004 - AUG 1, 2004 UH-18SPW Project. I have been quite busy and have not done much on the 18spw. But the flywheel is finished and the pulleys and flywheel are going out for anodizing. I have also decided to rebuild the motor as it is easy to do at this point.
May 15,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Made a mock up of the gas tanks. Not much other work has been done do to time constraints.
Apr. 23rd - 28th,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the engine and adding the wing attach strips to the sides of the top of the hull. I also made a cover for the back of the thrust duct and made the lift belt tubes.
Apr. 3rd - 4th,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the starter for the engine and still working on "fill&sanding" the body.
Mar 23rd - 30th,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on finishing the lift duct area and misc. finish stuff.
Mar 3rd - 9th,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the removable tail and the duct area mostly.
Feb 27th - 29thth ,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the engine mount, instrument panel, and finish stuff. I have not had much time to work on the craft as I have been busy at work and moving my parents from Virginia to Texas.
Feb 6th - 15th ,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Mounted the thrust duct on the craft. It almost looks like a hovercraft now. The engine is also getting a different intake system. Also still working on the thrust duct.
Jan 27-Feb 1 ,2004.
UH-18SPW Project. Working on the engine stand, lift duct, engine mounts and
lots of "stuff". I now have the slot in the duct cut for the fan
belt. Here is what it looks like now:
Jan 23-26,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Well the front of the hovercraft now has a cover and I am working on the lift fan drive system. I have the front idlers mounted and the lift fan supports dry fitted. Most importantly, the fan spins !!!!!! The spar supports have also been added in the cockpit.
Jan 17-19,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Have the seat basically built but it still needs the foam and covering. Working on the battery area so I can put the front on the craft. I should have the battery box cover put on tonight (19th).
Jan 13-16,2004. UH-18SPW Project. I now have the seat sides glued in and have been working on the battery box area. The engine mount now has the belt tensioner installed (and is being reinstalled on the correct side now - thanks Rob for the note). I still need to do a fair amount of work on the engine and figure out what I am going to do for a trailer. I also took out the lift fan disks and am installing the lift fan supports &&&&& THE VARIATOR IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan 07,2004. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the dash board area of the cockpit. Also, good news, UH finally has the variators in stock.
DEC 26-28 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Still working on the lift duct, engine mount and started the battery box. Rob said he may come over on the 30th with the prop. Yes!
DEC 20-21 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the lift duct and dashboard.
DEC 10-14 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Top of the lift duct is now cut to size and I am now working on the inlet rings and the engine mount is coming along nicely. I still am waiting for UH to get in the variators. It has been about 5 months now and I am getting worried they won't get any more made.
DEC 08-9, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Rob has the prop almost done and the rudders are cut to shape. Its getting there!
DEC 07, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. I finished the cockpit stringers and added the side wall splices. Now I need to glass the seams. I hate fiberglassing....
DEC 04, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Chris, Joe and I glued on the first cockpit top stingers. I should have all the stringers glued on tomorrow night.
Nov. 30, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. I have made less progress lately than I wanted to due to work and travel and my folks visiting. But, there has been progress on the cockpit and the engine mount.
OCT. 29, 2003.
UH-18SPW Project. I invited some friends over to flip the hull (and
they came anyway). Now to do the cockpit. Here is what it looks like
now:
OCT. 22-24, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. The bottom is now painted with a water block primer and the aluminum skid plates are attached. I was going to flip it today but it is raining -bummer-. I will try to get it flipped Sunday.
OCT. 18-19, 2003. This was the weekend of the Nails Creek State Park hover-in. The weather and water were GREAT!!! Mark flew a hovercraft for the first time! See pictures in the Nails Creek Hover-n 10/03 section.
OCT. 06-12, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. Well, it turns out I needed to cut a slots in the skirt attach strips for the wing spar strap. Not an easy job. Wish I had realized this earlier before I put on the landing skids. Oh well - you do what ya gots to do.... I also added a section of 1/8" plywood to the bottom under where the wing spar strap will be clamped and Kevlar wear strips on the sides under where the spar strap will go.
OCT. 01, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. Finished the bottom of the hull with the exception of sanding and painting. Called UH to check on my backorder for the engine pulleys and belts. The variator is still not in stock so this could become a problem if they don't get them in fairly soon. The engine mount will be done this month so it is coming together finally. Of course, there are still a plurality of "opportunities" yet....
Aug. 25-30, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. Working on the bottom of the lift duct to add the splitter plates for the skirt. The duct is taking longer than planned. I have also decided to make the tail removable and I am beginning to make the necessary parts for the change. This should make it possible to store it in my storage area.
Aug. 16-18, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. Finished taping the top seams and lift duct seams. Also, Rob Tilton sent me pictures of the thrust duct and lift fan he is making for this project. He does very nice work!!
Aug. 13-15, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. I mounted the lift duct into the hull. Also, I decided to go with a 1.8L Subaru engine instead of the GEO to keep things simple.
Aug. 7-10, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. I finished taping the bottom seams and had a "flipping" party to flip the hull over so I can work on the lift duct.
Aug. 5-6, 2003.UH-18SPW Project. I have been busy but have not updated the web for a few days. The bottom of the hull is now sanded and I have started taping the seams of the wood.
July 28, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. I am trying to do at least one task a day. So, I rough cut the plow planes to shape today.
July 26-27, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. The bottom skirt attach strips are now added to the hull. Glad that is done. Now to cut the plow planes to shape.
July 19-23, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. OK!!! I am vacuum bagging the hull with the plow plane foam and plywood. YES!!!!!!!!
July 16-18, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Added the top side wood strips and rough cut the top to shape. Also, vacuum bagged the plywood to the hull and cut the hole for the lift duct.
July 14-15, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Glued the side and back skirt attach strips to the hull. Lots and Lots of clamps....
July 11-13, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Finished making the work table to build the hull on. It is BIG! Also glued the foam sheets together and rough cut the shape of the hull.
July 10, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Finished the lift duct and working on other wood bits for the HC.
July 8, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Working on the lift duct tonight. Have to bend the wood around the disk and fiberglass it.
July 01,
2003. UH-18SPW Project. The foam and plywood shipment arrived from UH!!! What a lot of
foam.... Here is what the craft looks like now:
June 26-27, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Worked on lift duct wood form for 18spw and the bender for the bottom skirt attach strips. See lift duct & Hull in 18spw.
June 25, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Mark, Chris & I shaved down the 2x4x20' lumber into tooth picks (it seemed) to make the side and bottom attach strips. I also purchased the wood to make the lift duct forms and the bottom skirt attach strip bender. See pics in 18spw section.
June 20-21, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. Purchased the 2x4x20' and 1x4x16' treated wood from a local lumber yard. Had to tie it to the top of the truck. It was not something you want to do for a long drive but I did not have far to go. I hope the foam will be in on Friday. Chris Keirs and I are cutting the skirt attach strips tonight (21st) from the 20' lumber. Need two people for the job.
June 19, 2003. UH-18SPW Project. As Rob Tilton correctly stated I am crazy but I have decided to do some minor changes and build an 18SP (maybe SPW). It will take some minor changes to the T4 hull... ok it is toast. Made a deal with Rob and he will take over the 15T4 project. The new foam is on order from UH so have to make room for it in the garage. I really hate to start again but you have to do what you have to do.