Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

[Stumpy]

Greetings all,

Was wondering if original seamed aluminum pants are that hard to come by. I have a set with only one or two tiny dings and no damage whatsoever....chrome strip over the seam. Planned on hoarding 'em for the future, but I run larger mains anyway...probably never going to do a museum quality restoration job either. I could use a different prop or carb more than pants.

Haven't started cleaning them up. Still torn on getting rid of them, hence my question on their rarity. If they can be found now and again I don't mind losing this pair. If I decided to part with them, any ideas on fair value?

Thanks much

[Bird]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

I haven't seen any others that I can remember, but if you do decide to pass them on and I can afford the price I call dibs.

[M Towsley]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Yes, you see a pair just now and then, usually very tired, dented and full of holes. But I would put them in the rare category, almost unobtainium category.

I would be interested, second dibs, depending upon price, of course.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

I have an original pair and a glass copy set. I don't fly with them but they look REAL NICE on display. If these are really nice ones we should consider making a mold for more glass ones or a buck to make more aluminum ones. I would put good clean metal pants just under original bubble face compasses.

Hank

[Joe cooper]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Speaking of original, at the massey air museum sits a rebuilt gull wing stinson fuselage on its gear with new tires.new ceconite. Painted. Beside it on a stand sits the completely redone 300 hp lycoming engine, rebuilt by a pro in Ohio. It's been run in , tested, etc. the wings were the next project by the owner who passed away a few months ago. He was a founder of massey museum. Someone with the proper background could have one hell of an airplane to tool around in. His partner John Williamson runs the place. Massey, md. It's for sale as is.

[NC36061]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

VERY rare, but not quite as much so as the pre-war type. Since they come along so infrequently, there is really no way to say what they are worth... whatever someone is willing to pay for them is what they are worth.

Dave

[Stumpy]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Dave,
That's a nice pair too. I've had a few people ask me to part with mine...just seemed like something I should keep. :-)

Hank,
This pair is in pretty durned good shape. I think that would be a fine idea. Reckon I could figure out how to make a mold without messing up too much. I've made experimental part molds a couple of different ways. Never made a buck before...that would be even better. Not sure I know anyone doing that sort of thing around here but I will ask around.

[mike lutz]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

pre-war 1940.

[tcraft46]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Hi !
I'm interresting too if you sold wheel pants
thanks

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Doc had a set of molds made and produced beautiful set of fiberglass pants. The molds were made available here, but there were no interested parties. That was 2006. I don't know where the molds are now, the company that made them for $1000 has changed hands.
Such a pity.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Wag Aero has fiberglass reproductions of the pre war. If you want post war you just need to trim down the ridge, and install the chrome strip. My dad supplied the plug which was ruined when they made the mold. An other company had used the plug back in the 1980's, but they have since went out of business.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

It isn't a real big market. You will never make a dime doing them.

Hank

That isn't why we do stuff like this.

[Stumpy]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

Hank,

That's a fact...but no matter. Everything I do on the old girl is good for the mind and the soul. Seems like I stop at the hangar enroute home everyday, and then get lost in a task and arrive home after midnight (good thing I'm single). Time in the hangar is almost as good as time in the air...instant peace of mind. Helping a couple of other fellars find the same peace with their projects. Nothing like throwing a Glenn Miller cd in the music box and burying my head in the aeroplane....1946 was a simpler, gentler time...well, maybe not completely, but it's mighty easy to start thinking that way with a Taylorcraft. :-)

[M Towsley]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

I wish there was a way to 'Like' a post. ^^^^^^^^

[Bird]

Re: Original wheel pants...how "rare" are they?

I wish there was a way to "shush guys no other comments allowed". lol