African Taylorcraft Restoration

[1938BF50]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Charles,

Those are 15 rib post war wings but they look short to me? Are they clipped? maybe it's just the perspective.

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi Guys,

I've been trolling around the internet looking for donor TCraft bits and pieces since my last post. By chance I contacted a local SA company which ships US sourced airframes back to South Africa in the vain hope that they might have come across something I could use i.e. a derelect airframe with wings. A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from them about a partly restored airframe for sale at $5000. Well tribe I have bought her and will let you have all the details when I can. So far all I know is that the gentleman restoring her wanted to get rid of the lot (unhappy or getting too old?). Anyhow here are a few pics. The engine I did not get a pic of ,A-65 but it apparently looks like new. All logs and papers are with the plane.

A happy and contented,
Charles

that certinly simplified things didn't it. The wings are fine and full length...it just the way the photo looks. If you enlarge the picture that shows the wings it puts it in better prospective

[mhorowit]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

A happy ending and a happy beginning! - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

My word, what a find! (better than Auster wings for sure!)

Well done, Charles...keep us posted on progress!

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi Tribe,

Quick questions:

1. What is the best fluid cleaner to use on my tailwheel assembly?

2. My landing gear axles have surface rust, I intend using a wire brush and then water paper with the cleaner from 1. is this OK?

Update on my project airframe is that she's stuck in PMI (?) for about two weeks for a US Customs inspection, is this a bad thing?

Keep em flying,
Charles

[Obelix]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hooray

Someone else in South Africa. Hi Charles, I am busy rebuilding ZS-VHL. The fuselage is currently at Rand Airport hanger 25.You are welcome to go have a look any time, seeing that it is just around the corner for you but I'll be there Saturday morning.

I had a bit of bad luck, opened up my O-200 engine I got with the plane and it unfortunatly required BIG repairs. 3 of the 4 cylinders out of spec already at max oversize. I got all the parts from Continental only last week, but that was a big chunk out of my budget and it slowed progress a little bit on everything else. I've waited four months for all the parts, hope your import is a bit quicker.

I was able to source an engine mount from a very friendly Mr Tom Buttram, also a member on this forum. I have most of what I need now and with little bit more time I might take to the air, hopefully early next year.

You are welcome to give me a call 082 seven eight five 4932, I live in Pretoria.

Here is some more info and titbits I found on another forum a bit closer to home. http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewto...it=taylorcraft.

I dont have a recent picture, but this shows mine when I got it. Bought it as a partially restored project. Wings and tailfeathers already re-covered.



Hope we can meet soon.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

keep up the communications..... the panel looks strange, wood?

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

I like the wood...it's different.

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hi Tribe,

Customs released the container with Project #2 inside BUT (there's always a BUT ) apparently there was a communications mix-up at the terminal and my baby was not loaded and therefore missed the outbound containership. Next one leaves on the 25th July so arrival date here will be about end August. Oh well, more time to plan and get ready I suppose. The one little glimmer is that PMI are going to cover the extra storage costs. Getting excited now, more so than picking up the fuse frame and tail bits.

Forrest, my first thoughts are to replace the wood panel with conventional ali one. Have a great time at Oshkosh, hope to be there next year.

Keep 'em flying,
Charles

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Charles,
What will you take for the wood panel?

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Kevin,

If you give me your postal address when it gets here, I'll box it and send it on it's way. I'm curious to see the upper edging though.

Regards,
Charles

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Me too, dought that I will use it but it will make a nice wall decoration in my hangar bar & lounge. I might also use it as a pattern for a panel overlay.

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Kevin,

Thats a good idea, I have a bunch of bar coasters somewhere that are printed as instruments. If I can find them I'll chuck em in...I may even make a cheap ply copy for the den.

Charles

[CFLEEPIO]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

Hello Tribe,

My "new" project finally arrived from the USA. Fetched my baby from FAKR (Krugersdorp) airfield this morning and unloaded at Boksburg home this afternoon. What a job, all kinds of goodies were squirreled away inside the fuselage. Took some maneuvering to remove them. Found lots of extra bits and pieces for my first BF project as well (eg nose bowls, ribs, ailerons etc). This Taylorcraft last flew in 1988, was registered in June 1946 as N96048 and has serial number 8348. Will post pictures tomorrow as I'm busy downloading now.

Best Regards,
Charles Flee

[crispy critter]

Re: African Taylorcraft Restoration

I will be looking forward to seeing the pics.