Built up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

[likeTs2]

Has anyone seen or have a postwar Tcart with built up ribs. There is one on Barnstormers that is advertised as a BC12-D and looks like one as far as the fuselage is concerned, but the picture of the wings shows built up ribs.

Mark

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

Wings get swapped around and pre war wings end up on post war planes and post war wings end up on pre war planes. There isn't much problem with it (we won't go into the problems with wires or rib stitches again here since you have stick ribs and I think EVERYONE agrees that you can only use stitching there). The stamped ribs are lighter, stronger and less prone to damage in use. The pre war ribs tend to get broken, especially if you have a wing tank and put a load on them from a gas can. Another thing is you need 15 ribs on a post war no matter what kind of ribs you have (most pre war planes had 13 rib wings). I have seen a post war plane with one 13 rib wing on one side and a 15 rib post war on the other. Most won't even notice the difference and won't even notice the wing tips are also different. You also should NOT be mixing wings on the same plane!
There are a lot of folks who want stick ribs on their pre wars (myself included) and will trade parts to get you post war wings if you are interested.

Hank

[likeTs2]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

I thought that might be the case. I counted the ribs, and there are only 13. So those wings can't be used on a postwar plane. The add says that the recover job was not approved, and had to be removed. I wonder if the wings were part of the problem. I guess if the project could be bought at a discount and then the wings traded it might be worth it. But I would not be interested in shipping wings around the country. It would have to be with someone local.

I'm going to the West Coast Flyin this weekend. Maybe I will check with the guys there. I'm up in Sacramento and the plane is in Ripon, which is right on the way to Columbia, so it would not hurt to check it out and look at the log books.

Thanks for responding to the post Hank. You are a wealth of knowledge re: these neat little planes and I appreciate you willingness to share.

Mark

[likeTs2]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

I thought that might be the case. I counted the ribs, and there are only 13. So those wings can't be used on a postwar plane. The add says that the recover job was not approved, and had to be removed. I wonder if the wings were part of the problem. I guess if the project could be bought at a discount and then the wings traded it might be worth it. But I would not be interested in shipping wings around the country. It would have to be with someone local.

I'm going to the West Coast Flyin this weekend. Maybe I will check with the guys there. I'm up in Sacramento and the plane is in Ripon, which is right on the way to Columbia, so it would not hurt to check it out and look at the log books.

Thanks for responding to the post Hank. You are a wealth of knowledge re: these neat little planes and I appreciate you willingness to share.

Mark

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

I wouldn't ship wings. They are light but too easy to damage and the shear size would cost a fortune, HOWEVER, if they are taken apart and the spars kept for the new wings shipping just the pieces would cost much less. Wings are mostly air so they are light but volume costs a lot to ship. Ribs not so much.

Hank

[likeTs2]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

I should have used another word. I was not refering to mailing the wings with a shipping carrier, but rather transporting them myself. I have a boat trailer I modified for moving airplanes after the wings and empanage have been taken off. I still would not want to have to travel very far with them. Mybe a couple hundred miles , but much further would not be worth it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

Same here. I have moved several sets of damaged wings but never further than about 50 or 60 miles. Never a problem in an enclosed rental truck (what I could rent). I agree, moving aircraft that far, even on an open trailer like you are thinking of, is no problem when the wind and weather are cooperating. Inside of an enclosed truck I would even go further. Handling a wing panel WITHOUT the covering is MUCH easier than a covered wing in anything other than dead calm conditions. A 10 mph wind catching a covered wing with only two people holding is is much more excitement than I like. I have moved UNCOVERED wings from one hangar to another in 20 to 30 mph winds with no trouble. In those winds even a rudder of stab can be big trouble when covered.

Hank

[jstall]

Re: Burt up ribs on a postwar BC12-D

Wings get swapped around and pre war wings end up on post war planes and post war wings end up on pre war planes. There isn't much problem with it (we won't go into the problems with wires or rib stitches again here since you have stick ribs and I think EVERYONE agrees that you can only use stitching there). The stamped ribs are lighter, stronger and less prone to damage in use. The pre war ribs tend to get broken, especially if you have a wing tank and put a load on them from a gas can. Another thing is you need 15 ribs on a post war no matter what kind of ribs you have (most pre war planes had 13 rib wings). I have seen a post war plane with one 13 rib wing on one side and a 15 rib post war on the other. Most won't even notice the difference and won't even notice the wing tips are also different. You also should NOT be mixing wings on the same plane!
There are a lot of folks who want stick ribs on their pre wars (myself included) and will trade parts to get you post war wings if you are interested.

Hank

HANK, I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT DIFFERENES BC12D AND 1938 BC
CAN YOU HELP, PLEASE EMAIL call me if you can or 580 327 7047

J Stallings
Alva, OK