Taylorcraft purchase advice

[DavidB]

I know these questions get posted often, but I am trying to determine a value for a 1946 Taylorcraft BC12D.

A little background on the plane. It is a '46 model with the 65 Continental with a TO 600 hrs ago. The logs date back to the mid 50's. It was covered in the early 80's with polyfiber. The plane has been out of annual for 10 years and none of the AD's have been complied. The owner is still flying it a few hours a year. So obviously it needs some work and money to get it legal. It is hangered but is near the ocean. There is obvious oxidation on the propeller and engine, and surface rust on the fuselage between the landing gear.

So I know it is going to need a lot. What do projects like this cost?

Thanks,

David

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

What they COST is lots of your time and money over what could be several years. What they are WORTH is PURE GOLD! You can't have much more fun than working on your own plane and making her what you really want.
To answer the question you were probably actually asking, how much should you PAY for her, there are hundreds of variables, but if it is actually flyable (even if he has been doing it illegally) it would be worth from $1,000 to maybe $10,000 depending HEAVILY on if it is "really sweet" or maybe has major hidden problems and the owner has been cheating death a couple of times a year. The thing in it's favor is it should be complete if he has been flying it.
If I was to buy one like that I would strip off the fabric for a REALLY good look at everything and that will add (guessing) $4,000 to $6,000 to the end cost to you (some of you guys who have covered a plane recently should chime in with a GOOD cost to recover, mine is just a guess based on OLD info). If you recover you will find ALL KINDS of funky things while it is "nekid" you will need to fix.
Hank

[DavidB]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

Hank,

That is what I was thinking. First it would need the strut AD complied with and if needing replacement that would cost $2000 plus. I am sure it would also have "other problems" that will be found at the first annual (brakes, mags, wheel bearings?). Then I was thinking that it would need the wings recovered in the first year and the fuselage in the following year or two. The windshield looks pretty foggy too. One of the problems would be finding a AP who would be willing to work with me. There not very many people with those skill sets in the area.


Thanks for the feedback. It helps get the gears turning.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

based upon what you mentioned and location, I would look for a different one.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

It COULD be a great plane, but based on the uncertainty I would bid low and assume you will find lots of problems. You will CERTAINLY need to add in the cost of a full recover to your budget to look at everything. Restorations ALWAYS cost more than you expect. When you buy an award winner the prior owner looses money and you get a bargain, unless you LIKE working on your plane and don't count your labor cost.
Hank

[mulwyk]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

You must assume it's a project plane, i.e. it needs a rebuild. Project plane = $8000

[akndrifter]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

I paid 8k about 5 years ago, and she needed a new spar and both ailerons got redone. Midtime engine, mid '90s fabric. After it was all said and done we had another 7-8k into it.

Seems like there are plenty of 65hp versions out there right now in the mid teen price range, FWIW.

[magman]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

If you are not doing the majority of the work & have to pay to "restore" the aircraft

then it would be best to forget it.

Labor rates tend to be in the $1 per MINUTE range.


It could be worthwhile to have a look at the cluster per AD before

making your mind up.


It's not uncommon on these "Flower Pots" to have rust on the cylinder barrel.

Often it will show up with oil fouling the lower plug.

Removing the top plugs for a look will accomplish very little.

Remove the LOWER plugs & inspect the top surface of the barrel.

If you don't have access to a scope or "Bend-a lite" be aware that

Wal-mart sells a small 1 cell battery that will illuminate the area .

[Richh2only]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

I am just starting to recover my 1946 BC12-D and figure it is going to cost in just materials approximately $4,500.00 that is using the Poly Fiber process, I figured the cost of materials on the Steward System and it was within a few hundred dollars of that figure also. This is just the covering supplies, does not include blasting and painting the fuselage, and painting all the other metal pieces. My project I picked up with a zero time Continental A-65 and the fuselage already stripped and painted, paid $9,500.00 for the project and figure I will have about $24,000.00 into it when I am done. This is with a new Airtec interior, new brake parts, tires, flying wires, windows, engine baffles and a thousand of hours of my own labor. But it will be a labor of love, at least that what these other guy are saying. Good Luck and happy shopping.

Richard Herzberger
N43178 Member #1072

[DavidB]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

Thanks guys. I was thinking along the same lines as far as value and work needed. Unfortunately the asking price is really unreasonable due to its current condition and lack of maintenance. I am afraid that this one will be sitting for a few more years. The shopping will continue.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

the salt water rust would kill it for me. to many other better projects out there

[fearofpavement]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

The most important question one must ask themselves is, "Do I want to fly or do I want to work on an aircraft?" If you want a T-craft to fly then find one that someone else put their love and money into. If you want a project, get one that is within the scope of your capabilities. No matter how inexpensive the cost of a project plane, the completed plane will almost always exceed the cost of a good airworthy aircraft. That being said, putting the plane together how you want it is "priceless".

[M Towsley]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

There is a Swick project on Barnstormers that just came up.

[cvavon]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

There is a 1946 on EBAY looks good in photos

[T.Taylor]

Re: Taylorcraft purchase advice

Thanks guys. I was thinking along the same lines as far as value and work needed. Unfortunately the asking price is really unreasonable due to its current condition and lack of maintenance. I am afraid that this one will be sitting for a few more years. The shopping will continue.

Just North of you, at Tillamook is a Luscombe owner and he would know a good tube and fabric mechanic, I used to live there and it is worth the trip up there, Tom