New L-2 project

[Bigdog]

I just acquired an L-2 project. I haven't picked it up yet so I don't have an inventory of everything I'll need to do or replace. I do know that the wings are going to need a lot of work. They'll likely need most if not all ribs rebuilt.

I'm not going to jump into this right away because I have an RV to finish. But I've got a few starting questions to get my juices flowing:

1. Are ribs available or do I need to build them myself? I've got a friend to guide me on creating jigs, etc. but I'm always looking for easier or better.
   
2. This L-2 started life as a TG-6. According to the records it's been a plain L-2/DC-65, i.e. straight back. The fuselage looks like it could be switched to an observer type by changing the wooden formers. Is it really that easy? What all is involved in making it a L-2A/B/M/DCO-65?
   
3. The spoilers were removed when it was converted to power. Are spoiler components available? Is it desireable to put them in?

That will get me started. I'm sure I'll have many, many more as the project progresses. Thanks for the help.

Regards,
Greg Young

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New L-2 project

Got your application today , welcome aboard. I will answer by direct e-mail; we are doing a conversion ship right down the road from me. Lots of times ribs can be repaired right in place, jigs are easy to make, lets see what the tribe has to say about your questions. I will be looking up your ser#.

[barnstmr]

Re: New L-2 project

Hi Greg,
Welcome... there are quite a few L-2's [DC(O)'s] in TX. Where did you find yours? Take a look here and give me a call if you have any needs.. I might be able to steer you in the right direction. Click here...

http://dc65stc.blogspot.com/search/l...es%20%2F%20L-2

[Dick Huish]

Re: New L-2 project

Greg welcome to the wonderfull world of L-2s. You can put the greenhouse on so that it looks like an L-2A,B&M but that involves a lot more than installing the window frame. The DCO-65 has notched trailing edges on the wings for increased visibility. The glider fuselage was built on the DC-65 fuselage. You'll find that there is a pair of tubes behing the rear seat that wre removed so that the swivel rear seat was installed. When they deleted those tubes they increased the wall thickness of the spar carry-thrus and the door and window tubes. I would not reccommend doing that. I guess what I'm saying is that you can make it look externally lik an L-2M but you'll have to without the swivel seat and the desk. As for the spoilers I'll be glad to talk to you off-line. I can supply a lot of part for the L-2 family of ships. My emal address is warbug43 at aol.com. Dick

[Bigdog]

Re: New L-2 project

Wow, I amazed at this kind of response. This is an enthusiastic group. It's great to join you. A T-Craft (BC12D) was my first love. I doubt I could still fold myself up to fit in the BC so when I contempated a low and slow the L-2 seemed like the logical choice. My project is in Beaumont, TX right now. I stumbled across it from a fellow Navion owner who just happened to mention it at a Navion fly-in.

I wasn't actively searching because I've got continuing work on the Navion and an RV-6 project to complete. Plus I've got a Corsair replica I want to start. But I couldn't pass on an L-2. I'll work it in somehow. The first step is to move it to Houston. then I can take stock of what I've got and start planning and collecting any parts I need while I get the RV finished (it's at the 90% done, 90% to go stage)

I'd love to locate some of the L-2's in Texas or La. I'm always looking for somewhere to fly the Navion.

Regards,
Greg Young

[Bigdog]

Re: New L-2 project

Greg welcome to the wonderfull world of L-2s. You can put the greenhouse on so that it looks like an L-2A,B&M but that involves a lot more than installing the window frame. The DCO-65 has notched trailing edges on the wings for increased visibility. The glider fuselage was built on the DC-65 fuselage. You'll find that there is a pair of tubes behing the rear seat that wre removed so that the swivel rear seat was installed. When they deleted those tubes they increased the wall thickness of the spar carry-thrus and the door and window tubes. I would not reccommend doing that. I guess what I'm saying is that you can make it look externally lik an L-2M but you'll have to without the swivel seat and the desk. As for the spoilers I'll be glad to talk to you off-line. I can supply a lot of part for the L-2 family of ships. My emal address is warbug43 at aol.com. Dick

I figured it couldn't be that easy. I just was surprised that the fuselage longerons went through at mid-cabin rather than at the top of the cabin where I would have expected them. I like the greenhouse but the straight back would be closer to it's origin. I don't plan to be a slave to authenticity so it sounds like I could do either. I've got time to think about it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New L-2 project

A friend of mine has a Navion. BIG airplane! Are you planning to load the L-2 into the back to bring it home? With a Navion you might have to use the back seat too.
Hank

Love the F-4U too. IF you need photos of details or measurements for the replica let me know. There is an award winner on the field I fly from.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: New L-2 project

There is an L-2 at San Geronimo (8T8) owned by (I think) Ron O'Dea. He is in Chapter 35 EAA.
No L-2s on our airport at Bulverde (1T8) but two BC-12 and 1 F-19 here.

[barnstmr]

Re: New L-2 project

Another L-2M in Corsicana and one (L2B with C85) in Arlington - Look up Mohawktipi on the forum.... Also two projects going on in Fredricksburg area... and another flying one with O-200 in the Amarillo area... and another in Flower-Mound TX - restoration nearing completion

[mohawktipi]

Re: New L-2 project

Welcome to the L-2 group. Terry Bowden (barnstmr) has a STC for installing C-85 up to O200 Continentals on the L-2. I highly recommend it. My L-2B was greatly improved by installing the C-85. I am in the process of upgrading the C-85 with the O200 STC modification. Can't wait to get it back in the air.

Good luck with your project. I live in Arlington, TX but have a place in Harlingen as well. After you get started let me know, I'll plan a detour to look at your progress.

[Bigdog]

Re: New L-2 project

A friend of mine has a Navion. BIG airplane! Are you planning to load the L-2 into the back to bring it home? With a Navion you might have to use the back seat too.
Hank

Love the F-4U too. IF you need photos of details or measurements for the replica let me know. There is an award winner on the field I fly from.

I think this is going to be a little too much for even the Navion to carry... in one trip any way The package includes a BD-5. Talk about the Odd Couple! I think I'm going to need a 20' truck to move everything. I'd prefer not to use an open trailer since all the covering is off. It's only about a 200 mile round trip so if I have to rent one it won't be too bad.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New L-2 project

Went out and fondled the F-4U today (it is actually a Goodyear built model...FG-1D?). I missed the run-up on the F-4F by less than 10 minutes. The Wildcat is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It was in the hangar with the Yak, a Fiesler Storch and a TBM Avenger. These are just the planes in the MAINTENANCE hangar!
Makes it hard to leave and work on my little Taylorcraft.
Hank

[crispy critter]

Re: New L-2 project

Welcome to the group....I have a friend who has been looking for a less then reasonably priced BD-5,lol. Let me know if ya want to part with it and I'll put you two in touch.

[Bigdog]

Re: New L-2 project

I finally picked up the project and am starting to figure out what I’ve got. In talking with Forrest we confirmed that the fuselage is the original glider fuselage. The tell tale signs are stub tubes in the front spar attach cluster weld. I'm not sure yet exactly what plugged into those tubes but I assume it was some support for the forward enclosure. There's a lot of info on the CD's and it may take a while to stumble across the right drawing. Here's a picture...



I found that one of the gas tanks has the spoiler pass-through tube installed. The other does not. The #1 ribs have a rounded trailing edge so it appears they were notched even though I found no conversion paperwork. It’s hard to know what was done. Some of the registration forms show it as a DCO-65 and some as just DC-65. Although this was originally a TG-6 I don’t see any evidence of the spoilers and assume they were completely removed when converted to power. I think I'm goiing to pursue building it as an observer and putting the spoilers in. It's early in the process so we'll see how it goes.

[Bigdog]

Re: New L-2 project

Welcome to the group....I have a friend who has been looking for a less then reasonably priced BD-5,lol. Let me know if ya want to part with it and I'll put you two in touch.

Now that I've got it home I'll do an inventory of the BD-5. It looks like a reasonably complete set of airframe parts. The fuselage is mostly built and on the gear with good workmanship. The long wings look ready to rivet the skins on. The short wings are still just loose parts. It will be fairly cheap whether it goes as a flyer or an ornament.