Rebuilding my '39

[crispy critter]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Roger,
Another way to fix the problem is to install the horizonals,re-drill the attach holes in the vertical postions then weld up the old holes.It would eliminate the problem and make it very easy for future removals.

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Thanks Crispy, although I don't want to pull fabric and recover the stabs again. I think I'll just go with the slit and repair idea, about the easiest for me at this time.
A bit of an interesting side note. I found one of the previous owners of my plane. He owned it in 1949, paid $400.00 for it. Flew it for a few years and then got sent to Korea and sold it. He was pretty happy to hear the 'ol bird was still around. I sent him some pictures of the restoration job I'm doing. He said he may have some pictures in the back of his hangar of the aircraft when he had it. That would be pretty neat to see. He did say the aircraft was all red except for the bottom half of the fuselage was black.

Some of you may know him. Harley Dahler in Illinois. He is still building planes and did send me a pic of the Fairchild 22 he just finished. If I ever get this thing done I will have to fly it down there.

Rog

[midniteflyer52]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Hi,
I was fortunate enough to pick up and entire tail section from a '41 at a fly market with the factory fabric still on it. I too was very interested as to how this was addressed. What you need to do is make a small elonglated reinforcing ring out thin plastic about 1" wide X 1 1/2" long where you will need access to the nut and glue it on with a fabric patch over it. Apply your finishing materials over this. When the big day arrives cut out the center of the ring. Also,make yourself a six inch square or larger wood frame and attach fabric to it and finish it with the complete process you are using. This is your patchting material. Once the plane is assembled, cut out a piece to cover the "inspection ring", glue it on and your done, nice and neat. Some guys left this open but it invites all sorts of pests if you do. Now, don't lose the rest of this patching material, you never know when you might need it for something else down the road. Hope this helps.
Glen Brodeur
TF #42
Putnam, CT

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Great idea Glen! I like it. Might as well paint up a square yard and have lots of repair material. Wow, thanks guys I appreciate the help!

Rog

[crispy critter]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

I'm sure this will be common sense to you but make your cut on the bottom side of the stab.This way the patch will not be seen unless you lay down under it.

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

The fuselage and flight controls are stored away until painting begins. The project continues now into the wings.

When I bought this Taylorcraft the left wing had been recovered only 4 years prior, so it looked to be in really good shape. Trouble is the fellow used round riblacing cord for the ribstitching so I wanted to replace it with the flat chord as used on the rest of the aircraft. I carefully peeled up a tape over a rib and it just peels up very easy, like it's not even stuck on. The miracles of dope or poor technique, I'm not sure which. Under the rib lacing chord I find fiberglass packing tape used as a ribstitch reinforcement, arghh.

Next I take out a few stitch's and they are all done in individual granny knot loops that I can pull apart. When pulled they undo all by themselves. Why would someone do that instead of the approved modified seine knot or starter knots at least with a locking half hitch on each side?

Exploration continues and I'm not feeling to good at this point so I cut into the wingtip and find the fabric put on with contact cement. All thick powdery crystalized and orange, arghh.

I get to the leading edge and pull it up and find spray contact adhesive used to attach cheesecloth to the entire leading edge and then the fabric attached to the cheescloth. Whatever technique that is, I've never heard of it.

I did talk to the fellow who recovered this wing when I bought the plane about 5 years ago and did question him on the integrity of the spars because a crack was found in the main spar of the other wing. I've since replaced the spar in that wing. This fellow assured me there was no concerns with the spar and that he gave it a very thorough inspection. After looking at the wing root for oh about 30 seconds, I find a crack coming out from under the wing attach fitting, arghh!

Personally I think a person should lose his maintenance liscence for such questionable work and at the very least a swift kick in the ***. He did sign out all the work on this wing using AC 43-13.

Sure glad I didn't take the wife & kids for a ride in the Taylorcraft using this wing.

So I have a call in to wood suppliers and am looking for new spars, might as well replace the rear spar while I'm at it. This project just got alot bigger.

There's my rant for the day.......I feel much better now!

Rog

[Robert Lees]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

should lose his maintenance liscence

A valid point. Just how would you feel if the "next guy" who bought one of his planes got injured (or worse)?

I know it's not as easy as that, in that evidence etc is required. But if you do feel that you need to make a point on the standard of maintenance, then you should search your conscience and do what needs to be done. Is there a Confidential reporting system in Canada like there is here in the UK?

We had a "similar" case here in the UK a few years ago...some planes were condemned as a result. Bad news for the owners, but possibly good news?

Good luck with the project...at least it sounds like you are removing the previous poor workmanship.

Rob

[Guest]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

The fuselage and flight controls are stored away until painting begins. The project continues now into the wings.

When I bought this Taylorcraft the left wing had been recovered only 4 years prior, so it looked to be in really good shape. Trouble is the fellow used round riblacing cord for the ribstitching so I wanted to replace it with the flat chord as used on the rest of the aircraft. I carefully peeled up a tape over a rib and it just peels up very easy, like it's not even stuck on. The miracles of dope or poor technique, I'm not sure which. Under the rib lacing chord I find fiberglass packing tape used as a ribstitch reinforcement, arghh.

Next I take out a few stitch's and they are all done in individual granny knot loops that I can pull apart. When pulled they undo all by themselves. Why would someone do that instead of the approved modified seine knot or starter knots at least with a locking half hitch on each side?

Exploration continues and I'm not feeling to good at this point so I cut into the wingtip and find the fabric put on with contact cement. All thick powdery crystalized and orange, arghh.

I get to the leading edge and pull it up and find spray contact adhesive used to attach cheesecloth to the entire leading edge and then the fabric attached to the cheescloth. Whatever technique that is, I've never heard of it.

I did talk to the fellow who recovered this wing when I bought the plane about 5 years ago and did question him on the integrity of the spars because a crack was found in the main spar of the other wing. I've since replaced the spar in that wing. This fellow assured me there was no concerns with the spar and that he gave it a very thorough inspection. After looking at the wing root for oh about 30 seconds, I find a crack coming out from under the wing attach fitting, arghh!

Personally I think a person should lose his maintenance liscence for such questionable work and at the very least a swift kick in the ***. He did sign out all the work on this wing using AC 43-13.

Sure glad I didn't take the wife & kids for a ride in the Taylorcraft using this wing.

So I have a call in to wood suppliers and am looking for new spars, might as well replace the rear spar while I'm at it. This project just got alot bigger.

There's my rant for the day.......I feel much better now!

Rog

Hi Rog, sorry for your troubles. I've been there.

If this helps I'll comment on the fiberglass tape. When I purchased reinforcing tape specifically for rib stitching from Taylorcraft when operated by D. Ferris they sent me the kind of tape you mentioned so maybe that (one) piece isn't so bad. That type of tape is probably better for the wire clips too.

You could file a complaint with the FAA against the guys (I/A & A/P) that signed that off. That may shake them up, they appear to need it.

Dave

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Thanks for your support guys. Dave your probably correct on the packing tape. Maybe it is the correct product to use, I don't know. I sure didn't like seeing the ribstitching coming apart in my hands though.

I did call a couple wood suppliers out my way. I can get the wood no problem, this is British Columbia after all. One supplier can provide the rough cut lumber for both spars for about $250.00 cdn. I would have to plane it to the correct thickness and width. The other supplier, I'm waiting for a call back. So not a huge cost involved, I'm just more ticked off at the time it is going to take to pull apart the wing, replace the spars and prep it for recovering. I was hoping to fly this Taylorcraft next year. No worries, I'll just keep plugging away on it and one day soon..........this 'ol bird will feel air under it's "serviceable" wings.

Rog

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Hi Guys,

Turns out my spars are coming from Aircraft Spruce, along with a bunch of other goodies Anyways I was just reading the thread in the "Daily" forum about ribstitching and stamped ribs. Yikes! Three of my ribs at the wing root were replaced with stamped ribs. Would anyone have 3 serviceable prewar ribs available? Or are they as rare as hens teeth?

Rog

[lktiller]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

The stamped ribs can be rib-stitched. Just add wide chaffing tape to the edges. 2 layers in the prop wash area.
Or use the wire on just those ribs.
Or create your own built-up ribs. Parts still available.

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Two layers of anti-chaffe tape sounds reasonable to me. Thanks.

I have the forward spar out and laying on my bench. Wasn't so bad really but I always enjoyed taking things apart. All parts are labelled with aluminum tags wired on with a description engraved into them for where that part came from. I'll run them through the bead blaster at work and clean them up. When they are primed and the new spars are in the wing, it should all look beautifull.

The spars have still not shipped so in the mean time I've been trying to clean up the wing by removing all the old contact cement and masking tape. A real bear of a job but it is coming along.

Back to work and the fumes

Rog

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

Thought I'd share a picture of some of my latest work. Of course these are all the steel parts out of the left wing after being bead blasted and primed. Still no spars shipped from ACS, arghh!

Rog

[R. Winger]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

I did finally get the spars and other items from ACS about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I managed to get some time in the garage and shaped out the main spar. There is no better feeling than taking expensive wood and turning it into sawdust. As supplied they are correct in width but not height, length was not an issue as they were able to supply them at 17 feet long.

It took 2 months to get the spars but everything worked out well in the end. They came wrapped very well in metallized cardboard and then wrapped in several layers of regular cardboard. No damage whatsoever. I'd say ACS did a great job providing these except for the time it took. I'm sure this quality of wood at these lengths is getting harder to find.

Roger

[Sloanlow]

Re: Rebuilding my '39

All

I live in rattlesnake haven. You can bet my cable exits will be tight. I have heard many stories about High Altitude Rattle Snake encounters. I do not want to experience that. (Texas Tall Tail? Maybe.)

Jim