Wheel Pants/Fairings

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

JCandlish,

I attempted to contact that gentleman and have yet to hear back from him regarding the wheelpants you are talking about. Unfortunately, you can live here in the States and still feel as though you live in another country when it comes to getting some parts, like wheelpants. Thanks for the pic.

Ray,

I agree, the pants offered from Wag and A/C Spruce just don't do it for me, either.

Lee,

Thanks for sharing. Vincent sent me a few pictures of wheelpants that seem smaller and have a decent shape. Too bad he doesn't want to get rid of them. I understand why, though.

[dedrekon]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Here's what they look like on the airplane AND here's what the airplane currently looks like. We're going to start on it in a couple of weeks, just clearing out room in the shop.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

I will try and locate a source for them again. The only non-stock pants I use on t-crafts are Cherokee pants. They look real nice. I will try and find a pic where I used them and post it.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Vincent,

Now I know why you don't want to get rid of them. What were the bulges on the cowls for?

Mike,

Great, thanks. Any help is appreciated!!!

[N96337]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Most likely those bumps are for 150 style exhaust.
John H.

[dedrekon]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

They ARE for the 150 exhaust. That's an 0-200 in there. It's a '46 BC12D converted to an F19. I don't think it gets off the ground much (if any) quicker than my 65hp BC12D (which is VERY light), but it goes up lot quicker. I KIND of like capitalizing random words. Forrest must be rubbing off on ME.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Ahhh wheelpants again. Mrs. Feris had a small shop in Alliance do the "Egg" the original old style & the "teardrop" on the F-19 ( a copy of my Cessna 150 ones with a sharper tail. YES I have the molds, they went to Taylorcraft with Darius Zerbach and bless his soul they did come back to me. Placed outside my doors in the middle of the night! Really...
Many times we have talked about going to the folks that do them for Wag-Aero (about 15 miles from here) and having a few sets done. The mounts are the thing. NOW I do have one set of F-19 brackets, yes they fit all ships. I have molds for the cast ones, somebody did a few a while back but they did not understand a "shrink' mold. There are original ones out there, Dave Whitaker has a set on his ship , hmmmmm unguarded airport out in the middle of no where... I am really going through buildings a lot this week, lets see what I can find. The Harbor Ultralite were the best I have ever seen, they fooled me till I reached down and felt them...

[mulwyk]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Attached photo of the fairings that came with my project. They are fiberglass, but have no numbers or other identifying marks. They look, to me, a lot like Vincents fairings. Can anyone identify them? Are they original T-craft fairings?

The second photo shows the mounting hardware. They are welded, not cast. Looks like someone could easily make a set of mounts in their garage. And, of course, anyone with a mold could make copies of the fairings. And anyone with fairings could make a mold....

Bob Gustafson

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Those are indeed an earlier style of pants used on Taylorcraft and Aeronca too. ( I think) .. Brackets are a good style.

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Forrest,

I had an e-mail conversation with Matt Lahtia. He was leaving for vacation but he advised when he returned he would contact you about the molds. Let me know if you come up with any wheelpant mounts for my BC-12. Thanks!

[Tom Baker]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Hey Vincent,

Thanks, I got the pictures. Makes things a little clearer, now. That style is fine with me, I just have to find a pair now...............

m. towsley i have the plug for the prewar wheel fairing or the post war just add the trim. tom baker sr.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

re Tom Lahti , sounded like lots of Money!! I doubt that the members would buy them , I am here!

[M Towsley]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Forrest,

A lot of money compared to what???? I don't have access to the wheelpants I want to purchase. Originals are extremely expensive and next to impossible to obtain, and more than likely look like they were drug behind a car. The reason why this thread keeps popping up again and again, like other threads, is there are owners who want a part and can't obtain one. I would much rather pay someone today for a quality product than hope one day someone decides to produce an inexpensive item that was needed or wanted five, ten or fifteen years before. And unfortunately, I can't go out to my hangar, shed, someone else's hangar or shed to pick out the parts I need like a few folks on this board can. Can you feel my frustration, yet???

Tom Baker, sr.
After Matt Lahtia gets back I will talk to him about your molds. Thanks for offering!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Metal pants plus brackets go for $450.00 a pair. Wheels fenders $350. to $450. Uncut Taylorcraft streamlines from F-19 without brackets are $195.00 a pair. These carbon fiber stuff will sell for over $500.00 for uncut pants. Standard stock PA-28 or C-150 knockoffs are at Wag-Aero... posted prices

yes I feel the frustration, what do you really want to put on your ship?

[jCandlish]

Re: Wheel Pants/Fairings

Those wheel pants you mention Forrest are from old production. You just can't make anything as inexpensively these days (unless it comes from China).

I'll bet that Mr. Lahti isn't getting rich making carbon fibre parts.