Basic Steam Gauges

[Doc]

Just a few photos to show what Mark and I have been doing with NC43306. We just received a bead/flange roller to help with making a new boot cowl. Doc

[bashibazouk]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Beautiful work!

[mulwyk]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

very nice, Doc!

What's this...clear plexiglass on the tail inspection panel? What a great idea!

[Doc]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Mark's idea...and contribution to T-Craft pre-flight safety inspections. They take about 10 minutes to fabricate using the old metal ones as templates. Applying thin plywood strips inside the fabric as mounting material is an easy solution. Doc

[barnstmr]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Looking Good Doc. Its getting closer! Hey... nice panel too. Don't forget to install the clip on the fuel control to comply with the AD. I would hate to hear of an off-airport landing due to confusing the carb heat and fuel shut-off.
Just looking out for you.

[Doc]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

LOL! Thanks...I appreciate any advice I get! The skylight (CLayton STC) will be finished this week, and the interior will be completed shortly thereafter. One-half of the new boot cowl has been beaded and joggled, and we will start the other half this weekend. Door and "D" windows were fashioned out of new plexiglas today. The seat cushions and door panels are at the upholsterer. We are at the stage where 85% of the project is completed and the other 15% will consume 85% of our time. We are getting excited about how it is coming together....and trim and fuselage close-out parts are on the "to be primed/painted" table. We are anxious to get the engine hung and begin firewall forward... Best wishes. Doc

[jim cooper]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

what a good looking t-craft!

[bashibazouk]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Doc,

in the fourth picture, there's a little black thing on the rudder that almost looks like a spade. What is that?

Josh

[Doc]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Josh: The leather patch on the right side of the rudder, and the leather patch at the end of the right rear fuselage, are the fabric entry points for the electrical wiring to the tail strobe. The wiring is covered by electrical "snake" mesh tubing. However, there is also a painted spade where the black accent ends in front of the vertical fin...I call it the "Dragon's Tail"...the working name of the airplane is "The Red Dragon". The name "Dragon Lady" did not "fly" in my household. LOL Doc

[Ray36048]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Could you post some pictures of your boot cowl in progress?. Do you also have to make new engine cowls?

[Doc]

Re: Basic Steam Gauges

Mark posted some pics of the boot cowl installation last night under a separate post. We beaded and joggled the second side yesterday morning, and with Mike Rice's help, the cowl was fitted by mid afternoon. As we had the original damaged boot cowl to use as a template, the fit was pretty much "on", and will only require minimal tweaking. We need to hang the doors before we drill the boot cowl attachment points to the fuselage tabs. The sheet metal was 3003-H14 purchased locally in San Antonio by Westbrook metals. The bead roller/flanger was purchased from Summit Racing Equipment ($125.95)...we got our money back after the 1st use since no-one around 1T8 had one. Our local sheet metal expert (Ed "El Cubano" Santiago) gave us some great advice and help on the 1st sheet - his 40 years as a structural mechanic for Continental AL is a toolbox of its own. I was able to obtain a NOS upper/lower cowl set. We will look to see if the old set can be duplicated. Doc