41 BC12 Deluxe?

[shipljl]

I have been reading Chet Peek's book. If I read correctly he is leading me to believe that all of the B12's made in '41 were the deluxe model, that the deluxe was a new model in '41 that had a higher gross weight. Non-deluxe models would have had the 1150 gross weight. Were there B12s that were not deluxe in '41? My BC12-65 (name plate says BL12) does not have the D windows nor does it have opening side windows Was it a Deluxe or not? Can anyone help?

[NC36061]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

John,

Your interpretation is correct. All BC/F/L 12-65s built in 1941 and 1942(very few) were Deluxes, the 12 denoting the new 1200lb GW.

Most BF/Ls have been converted to BCs over the years, as the Franklin and Lycoming 65s became increasingly difficult to support. The D window frames and doors were wood and didn't hold up, most D windows removed over many years and recovers, wooden doors replaced with standard steel tube doors, Deluxe trim fell off or removed, cast grills broken and replaced with stamped or just removed, two-piece panel replaced, etc, etc.

A good clue to a Deluxe is metal trim tab on the elevator as opposed to flipper tab under the stabilizer. All pre-war also used three-hinge elevators and rudder; post-war 12Ds use the D model two-hinge type. However, it has also happened that 12D tails have ended up on a pre-war at times. AND it could be that a Deluxe data plate ended up on a later airframe and would have NO pre-war/Deluxe features.

Its very unlikely to find a Deluxe in original configuration unless it has been restored as such. Finding all of the parts and pieces to do an original restoration takes years and lots of luck and money. But the result is by far the best looking of all B models, IMHO.

So, yes, you have a Deluxe, but undoubtedly it has lost many of its unique Deluxe features after 70 years.

Dave

[Larry Lyons]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Yes the restoration is a challenge! So many parts for the 46 and virtually nothing for 41 Deluxe. I have some of the trim and now have the cast grills but still need some built up ribs. Should have grabbed the trim pieces on eBay last week but passed.
Larry

PS: Of course it could be a 38 and then I would have something to whine about!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Those of us crazy enough to try and take a 41 back to the original configuration are out here if you want to make it "original". It can be done a little at a time and in my opinion is TOTALLY WORTH IT. It is absolutely the best looking Taylorcraft ever built!
Just remember what I said a the start of the message. You need to be a bit crazy and it will take a while. Start gathering and making parts now.
Hank

[skipilot]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

I am working on a 41 myself. It takes lots of time, and searching to find parts. Anyone know how i can find the history about my old bird. N34094?

[shipljl]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Were all of the '41 Deluxe ships painted in the Duotone paint scheme?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Just happen to have an original 41 Taylorcraft sales booklet here and they advertised three models, the De Luxe (their way of writing it), the Trainer and the Tandem.

All of the De Luxe models were Duotone with 5 color combination available, "D" windows, shock suspended instruments, two tone interior, skull cap spinner and wheel pants.

The Trainer was two color (fuselage and wings different) with the earlier big tachometer panel, no "D" windows, big round wheels and wheel caps.

The Tandem was open cowl two color like the Trainer with triangle shaped jury struts and wheel caps and no spinner.

Hank

[flylo]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

I do need a set of alerons for a '41 our EAA chapter is restoring. Also Hank any chance of getting a copy of that brochure? I'd be glad to pay copying & postage charges. Please let me know. It might give the guys working on it inspiration to have a brochure hanging in the shop. It's a huge project with lots of work to do. Thanks! Eric

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

I am sure I saw it scanned in on one of the guys sites. I will try and take pictures of it if someone else hasn't already done so.
They come up on eBay every once in a while. That's where I got mine. They look great in the glove box and they ARE inspirational when you are working on the plane.
Hank

[wmfife]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Wow Hank I'd love to get my hands on a copy as well! Can you keep me in mind? -As I am /must be among those few crazy ones wanting to go all-original on my '41- (in fact I think it's almost TOO original with this backwards tach and 0-160-mph ASI, both in unrestored but still-functioning shape..).

I may have some questions about those three models, as mine still has the original wheel covers with no wheel-pant mounting hardware, and the cd from the FAA gave NO color info. Re-covering is just a few years off and I want to get it as right as I can. I already have some of the interior materials laid in including real Angora-goat mohair. .

I always wondered about these wheel covers. But the shock-mounted full panel wouldn't fit the description you give here for the trainer model. The all-black-fuselage CAA plane shown in Chet's book and the factory album apparently would, however. (-Just wonder what type panel that one had..?)

As usual this engine is giving me some fits making parts from scratch without a license. Legal, yes but involved, outsourcing some of the work here in a small town then getting my IA to sign on all of it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

You should be able to tell a De Luxe from a Trainer by looking at the instrument panel supports. I will try to photograph the booklet tonight and post it. I have pictures of what the fuselage behind the panel looks like for a Deluxe that should tell you which one you have. The thin tube under the top of the panel is shaped different between the models and the mounts are different.
Hank

[wmfife]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Hank,

This is the '41 shown in Chet's book that was ordered by the CAA in May of that year
(Just one month after mine rolled out) :

http://www.alliancememory.org/u?/taylor,428

(...Images won't paste for some reason so using links)

What is confusing me is that it has too much in common with mine for it to be the trainer model you describe. Besides what some are here calling the D window (postwar D's had smaller aluminum frame windows that hid the fuselage tubing but these are wood and large enough that it shows) both this one and mine also have the standard level-top panel with 3" dials and not the large tach of previous models. You can just make it out and Banjo yokes in the pic above if you enlarge it..

Here shows clearly the nose & cowl trim typical of a De Luxe:

http://www.alliancememory.org/u?/taylor,436

..as well as the wheel domes which fit perfectly on mine (and are even marked L and R on the inside to make sure- they've been through a lot) without the least trace of ANY wheel pant hardware. Am convinced it never had any.

Getting the panel off will have to wait till I can do a run-in on the engine. Looks like we won't be flying for a while... And I do hate to do static checks with the windshield off...

What I am now wondering is whether mine should be re-done in a scheme like this? Black fuselage and yellow wings? (..It's SO Pitcairn Mailwing- and gotta love that trim stripe...)

I will need to know soon enough. Seventeen and counting on fabric.

It does indeed take forever. Yes. But worth it. The more I learn the more in love I am...
Bill

[Ragwing nut]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

fastest way to tell if a fuselage is a deluxe is to look for the eyelets on the front door post for sissy straps. Many deluxes have lost their original panel, but there is alot of other ways to decipher a deluxe even from a post war fuselage

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

Can someone post a picture of the eyelets on the door post? Mine has a lot of the Deluxe features but I haven't ever seen how the sissy straps attached. I would like to put a set in.
Hank

[Ray36048]

Re: 41 BC12 Deluxe?

here you go.....