Struct-O-Speed

[high time cub]

Amazing....

HT

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

The little Comet kits can be built into really nice little planes too. This one is hanging in my office.
Hank

[flyguy]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

Comet is still around? Man those memories go way back. I built this P-51 (think it was a Comet), and it would glide about 10 feet and fall out of the sky. I was 10, how should I know that one was supposed to round the leading edge of the wing. LOL My other memory of Comet was the built-up ones were more than a little delicate. I mean, we were kids, we could destroy anything.
DC

[crispy critter]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

Hank,
Do you have the STC for those butterfly sky lights and the be red paddle blade prop??? If not you should probably land it and park it on the desk before the feds see these pics,lol.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

Actually, the butterfly skylight was original from the factory and is WAY better than any of the other ones I have flown with. It is small enough that your head doesn't broil in the sun, but is open enough when I tilt my head that my eyes are close to the glass and I have GREAT visibility through them.
They were put in by Taylorcraft in 1945 when the plane was built as one of the experimental skylights they were playing with then, but one of the factory old timers told me they didn't use that type in production because it was way to labor intensive to put in. The wood pieces still had the burn marks that matched the rest of the wood parts from a dull table saw blade used for the other wood parts. You could pick out every piece of wood that had ever been replaced in my plane by the lack of dark arcs on the wood. Must have been smoking like mad when they cut the wood!
The plastic prop isn't scale, but I was too lazy to carve one for the model. ;-) The 45 has been "parked" for a LONG time now. It's last flight was in October of 1977 and I bought her on her back after a wind storm on September 4th, 1982. I am going for the LOOOOONGEST restoration in history. She was really banged up when I got her and is dimensionally slightly different from most other Taylorcrafts. It was one of two prototype post war BC-12 "Deluxes" and had lots of experimental goodies that didn't make it into production. The wings have stamped metal ribs, but they are NOT like the regular post war planes. Each one was hand made (what a PITA THAT is!). The lower cowl was hand shaped on an English wheel and had a pronounced "bowl" on the bottom. From the measurements I have made the engine is not at the same height at a post or pre-war engine, putting the prop shaft off requiring a custom cowl.
It has been decades of one little problem after another. I even found the other "Deluxe" prototype and got to look it over. Unfortunately a past "restorer" had pounded her into submission and MADE the post war parts fit. Nice enough plane, but a real "modification mess".
That's why I finally bought the 41. I wanted to fly before I was too old to get in and out!
Hank

[crispy critter]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

I have seen a couple of the butterfly skylights and I had heard they had experimented with it at the factory but I had been told they never actually used or approved it. I always liked the looks of it and thought it would be much better then the full skylight. Thanks for the history lesson.....now I have to go admit to my wife that I didn't really know everything....but I do now,

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

There is an interesting magazine ad with the butterfly skylight but the artist painted it 90* out so it opens the front and back triangles instead of the side ones. I always thought that ad was a riot. The artist had obviously never even sat in a Taylorcraft.
Hank

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

I wanted to restore this one but I have not been able to get a copy of the drawings.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Struct-O-Speed

Mark,
That is different than what was in the 45. I have seen that metal frame before but mine was all wood and went all the way to the center joint where the tubes were welded together. The trim tab cables are actually exposed in the skylight on mine.
I have all of the pieces for it and will be gluing all the damaged parts back together (the 45 was bought on her back and pretty badly smashed up). When I do I will make drawings of all the pieces.
Anybody know what the rules are about using a factory design mod that was never put into production on another plane? I know it was flown with it for over 40 years and it was parked outside for quite a while with no evidence of water getting inside. I was told the only reason they didn't use it on other planes was the cost of making all of the wood frames.
Hank