Another part finished !

[Jim Herpst]

Before (bottom pic) and after pics of the triangle between the gear. It needed a new piece of wood put in as the old piece was cracked. Then new gussets at that piece attach point on both sides. Complete sand and recoat with two coats of spar varnish. Then new aluminum cover plate fabricated. The old one was getting really rough and had a stress crack just beginning in a corner. One more part in the series of parts either new or rebuilt ! . Good for another 76 years. Now on to hang the 0200 and some misc doodads so a professional metal man can fit up the new boot cowel cowling and nose bowl.

[taylorukuk]

Very nice!!

[3Dreaming]

Generally I thought those with a wooden frame were fabric covered, and of course the aluminum ones were aluminum. I know my pre war with the wooden frame was fabric covered. I suppose there could have been a period where the factory put an aluminum skin on a wood frame, but I suspect that was a field modification.

[Jim Herpst]

Could very well have been a field mod. Ryan Newell has one a very little bit older than mine as 43831 was a late March 46 early April build. There was transition happening during this time. If it was fabric covered it MAY go back that way.!!! Thanks for the heads up Ryan what say you on yours?

[Jim Herpst]

Well a call to Ryan verified that yes his is fabric covered. Given our were probably on the field at the same time and with how very close our numbers are fabric was indeed highly likely the deal . Thanks again.

[taylorukuk]

Ours 9043 built 16/07/46 is aluminium covered but also has the ali door frames...

Anyone know when the wooden door frames changed from wood to Aluminium?

[Jim Herpst]

There was a factory letter in May or June of 46 that stated moving forward all would have the aluminum door frames , stringer stand outs and pieces like the one I introduced here. Your N number definitely falls into the aluminum category...having said that someone is going to say..but mine is .... ya lots of interchanging of things (like complete fuselage s) carrying Registrations that differ from how that registration was when leaving the factory !

[taylorukuk]

Thanks for that - Very interesting.
BR Ian

[3Dreaming]

I have never seen an aluminum door frame on a Taylorcraft. They are either wooden or steel to the best of my knowledge.

[Jim Herpst]

I have never seen an aluminum door frame on a Taylorcraft. They are either wooden or steel to the best of my knowledge.

Are you talking about the frame around the door itself? Then yes that is aluminum. Is it not??. Sure looked like it when stripped? (Read it is aluminum). The door jamb is wood what we are loosely calling the "frame" . If you are telling me that the door jamb is either wood or steel that is a different matter.

[3Dreaming]

Yes, the pre war and early post war airplanes had wood door frames that were attached to tabs and wrapped withe fabric tape and doped. When they made the switch to metal frames they were steel and tack welded to the tubing. I remember this coming up before and going to our 46 project and sticking a magnet to the door frame. I thought I posted a picture when the discussion was going on.

[Jim Herpst]

Yes my early 46 has use of wood everywhere.. All of it now new except for the refurbished triangle piece starting this discussion .Probably going to use the newly fabricated aluminum cover on the triangle piece as that is how it was when Dad owned her. Bigger reason is that area does also seem to pick up a lot of crud based on how this all looked when I started!

[3Dreaming]

Here is the picture I posted from 2015.

[Jim Herpst]

There is so much here on this forum . Hardest part is finding it !! Also here is the factory letter I referred to as well.

[N96337]

There was a factory letter in May or June of 46 that stated moving forward all would have the aluminum door frames , stringer stand outs and pieces like the one I introduced here. Your N number definitely falls into the aluminum category...having said that someone is going to say..but mine is .... ya lots of interchanging of things (like complete fuselage s) carrying Registrations that differ from how that registration was when leaving the factory !

Mine is 8637 and if I remember correctly, my wings are signed on June 12 or 14, 1946. Door and jam are aluminum as is the triangle. No wooden frame.
John