Re-build of 46 BC12-D

[Leenicklas]

Looking for suggestions on order of "rebuilding". Should I install, baggage compartment, seat sling and headliner prior to covering fuselage or after. My thought is that it may be difficult to install these interior items when the fuselage is covered. Any suggestions will be appreciated. thanks.

[lfries]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Not an expert at this but I'm sire the headliner should be installed before the cover.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

I have done them all after recover and am REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO trying it before. If you have lots of time you can wait for a report. ;-) At the very least I would NEVER AGAIN fail to put all of the parts in prior to cover, and then if needed remove them for the fabric work. At least you would have everything already fitted up and sized. I plan to make lots of the parts of the headliner so they go in with snaps and VELCRO next time, if for no other reason than to make repairs and annuals easier.
I know how it goes to do the interior AFTER cover, and it was NOT a nice time. Maybe if you are 5' tall and weigh under 100#, but for a 6'3 200#+ worker it was TORTURE to get it all right.

Hank

And I had a professional upholsterer working with me on the 41 and he IS small. I doubt he is looking forward to me bringing him the 45. Hope he is happier when he sees the fuselage "au-naturale".

[3Dreaming]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Seat sling and baggage shouldn't be a problem except for over spray. Unless you are using aircraft fabric for the headliner you should cover first. The covering will need to be glued down in places where the headliner will go.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Yea, but the headliner will need to be attached where the covering ends up ....well, covering. That was the problem with mine. He needed to attach parts of the headliner where the fabric was already glued around the tubes or wood. That's why I like the idea of putting the headliner in and getting it perfect, then taking it back out for covering. No little nips and tucks in a covered fuselage cabin. Just make sure you leave wire loops out of the bottom of the fabric inside the cockpit for headliner hooks and put the VELCRO on the tubes where the first install of the headliner needed it.

I haven't done this yet, but I have done mine AFTER covering, and it was awful. I also helped do a different type plane (I think it was a really old Stinson) before covering and the headliner was easy, but it was BRUTAL keeping the covering chemicals off of it. We had plastic covering to try and keep it clean, but there will always be places where the glue gets through.

It's kind of like your wife's "To-Do" list. EVERYTHING has to be done first. Nothing can be done second.

Hank

And YOUR priorities aren't even ON the list!

[jmvolpp]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

I cast a vote for skylight instead of headliner.

Mike V.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Problem with the 45 is it has BOTH!

Hank

And a strange shaped, factory built one at that. Two triangles from the center of the cabin roof to a long side at each wing root. Really nice, but WAY TOO COMPLEX!

[Carrieve]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

I did my interior after the covering that way I didn't have to worry abut over spray, etc. By the way Hank I made my sky lights the same way with my own 337. I love looking out on a steep turn and being able to see what is above me.
My headliner is .016 aluminum with my fabric covering it. It is fastened at the edges and looks like factory. It gets lots of compliments.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Sounds like a neat solution with metal frames. Did you take pictures?

Hank

[n6346m]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

If you do it the easy way, it will wind up biting you in the ass later. One of the reasons I had to rebuild my Stinson early is that the previous restorer had pretty much built everything before covering the airplane. Over the years previous owners and I were unable to remove parts of the airplane to have access for repair and maintenance. The battery was under the baggage compartment floorboard that couldn't be removed from the compartment. Sidewalls and ceiling panels couldn't be removed because the bolts were on one side and nuts were on one side and only accessible by cutting fabric on the outside. You have no idea what you will run into after it's all said and done but I guarantee that it will eventually bite you. You just can't think of it all beforehand. Radio and com antennas, grounding planes, ELT brackets, rotating beacon brackets headliner bows ETC ETC. When I rebuilt my Stinson I made sure that the entire interior and baggage compartment and its structure went in through the door and could be removed from the inside through the compartment or entrance door. Now I can remove and replace the floorboards sidewalls and ceiling the fishing pole tube and everything else in the airplane without cutting into the fabric. I suggest that you cut, make and prefit everything first, take it all out, cover the airplane and put it all back in after. That's the only real way that you know you'll be able to access it later should you ever have to.

[Guest]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Bob,

That makes a lot of sense, really good point thanks for stating it.

Dave

[N96337]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Bob Picard has it. Assemble everything before you cover, but make sure it can come out through the openings you'll have when covered. I always assemble the entire aircraft before covering, controls, wiring, everything, and test out all systems before disassembling as much as needed to cover. It's a lot easier to see a problem from the outside in than after it's covered. Just keep in mind access down the road!

[skip]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

I'll add to the suggestions to put everything together before covering. Although I am just currently doing the wings and not the fuselage, a pre-cover assembly found a couple of little nit picks and showed me where I needed an extended access panel to hook up the aileron bellcrank connection after cover. So I practice what I preach at least...

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?10167-Pre-Cover-Inspection&highlight=pre-cover+inspection

Skip Egdorf
TF #895
BC12-D-4-85 sn7700 N34237

[Leenicklas]

Re: Re-build of 46 BC12-D

Thanks Hank and all 13 or so of you that responded to my post. You gave me some good advice. I'm still sweating bullets re the headliner, but when I actually start on it I think I will be able to figure it out. thanks again.