88M: Rudder success!

[mhorowit]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Don't forget the old hand-operated pipe cleaner style brushes as well as the toothbrush style wire brushes.

Like for cleaning a gun bore? - Mike

[VictorBravo]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Like for cleaning a gun bore? - Mike

Yep!

Or anything else that will work. A little blob of steel wool held in forceps... folded sandpaper, whatever works. Even the longer Dremel grinding stones on the end of an extension soldered to the shaft (this is not the intended use for the Dremel grinding stones of course)

I even have some small specialty pencil brushes that have a tight small bundle of short glass fiber bristles. There is a trade name for these which I have forgotten, but the brushes work in certain areas better than other stuff.

All that being said, sometimes a small bead blast cabinet is the only thing that will really do the trick.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

After welding and any blasting did anyone ever use "oakite" like they did at the factory prior to priming? Nice job Mike , I think I would like to see a copy of the 337 must be a beauty

[jdoran]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

A STRIPPER named Dads?

You guys are too much.

John

[Marv]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

After welding and any blasting did anyone ever use "oakite" like they did at the factory prior to priming? Nice job Mike , I think I would like to see a copy of the 337 must be a beauty

What is Oakite? Marv

[mhorowit]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Nice job Mike , I think I would like to see a copy of the 337 must be a beauty

There is a question concerning whether to lump all the repairs into one 337, or to produce a 337 for each component. - Mike

[crispy critter]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Mike,
On major airframe repairs I "think" you are suppose to keep them seprate. i.e....if you just need to patch or replace fabric on the rudder,I think that can be done with just a logbook entry,if you have to repair the damaged structure to the rudder then that has to be on a 337. I'm not 100% sure on this but I think that's right. ANY repairs to the structure has to be on a 337.

[VictorBravo]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

I'm NOT an IA, so check with your guy... BUT... Considering what has happened with the whole 337 ad field approval process, I'd have to recommend one overall 337.

Also, from what I have seen, all the repairs you are doing so far are replacing rusted components. The rest is a standard (although thorough) antique restoration. Repairing corroded parts is a common line item in a restoration, and the repair of corroded parts is well covered in AC 43.13. You might not have as big of a problem as you think.

So your 337 MIGHT read something like...

"Extensive restoration on derelict aircraft. Disassembled aircraft and removed all fabric. Repaired corrosion-damaged structure at a, b, c, d, and e. Replaced damaged components 1, 2, and 3 with serviceable replacement parts. Fabricated new parts x, y and z with equivalent owner-produced parts in accordance with FAR XYZ. Fabricated and installed new wing spars per AC 43.13 using aircraft grade Spruce and plywood from a known aircraft supplier (Aircraft Spruce). All aluminum parts cleaned and corrosion prep dipped using Alodine, all steel parts sandblasted and epoxy primed using Stits 2 part epoxy primer. All aircraft control cables and pulleys removed and inspected. All hardware replaced with new or serviceable standard aircraft hardware. Sheet metal cowlings, firewall, boot cowl inspected, cracks stop-drilled or patched per AC 43.13. Aircraft recovered using Poly-Fiber (Stits) approved process, fabric, adhesives and chemicals per blanket STC SA-XXXX."

The one thing that I must suggest immediately is that you find yourself an IA locally who will work with you, come visit your shop occasionally to see what you're doing, and who will eventually sign the 337 and submit it to the FAA. Just presenting the finished airplane to an IA and saying "I restored it" may cause a lot of problems because the IA will not have seen the inside of the plane.

IMHO one of the more daunting tasks you face is finding an IA who will take responsibility for your restoration. My strongest suggestion is to go to the local EAA chapter and start asking if they know anyone who is "friendly" towards antiques. If they don't know someone off the bat, then go to the local airport and start sniffing around. You can go the local FAA FSDO and ask who they know is experienced with antique aircraft restorations. You may talk to several IA's who are looking at you like their retirement funding before you find the one old guy who knows old airplanes and can keep an eye on you at a reasonable price.

[Winston L.]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

If you are doing a major repair on the aircraft the recover, rudder repair, landing gear repair, are included in that major repair so yes put it all on one. Just don't include things that are not considered major repairs.

Winston L.

[N96337]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Our FSDO likes us to keep them a bit separated... so for something like yours, I'd make out one for the airframe repairs, then one for cover/paint, then one for the avionics, one for engine work, etc..... Best advice is from VB, get an IA that will work with you and bounce EVERYTHING you do off him BEFORE you do it...
JH

[mhorowit]

Re: 88M: Rudder success!

Best advice is from VB, get an IA that will work with you and bounce EVERYTHING you do off him BEFORE you do it...
JH

That's my MO - Mike