Fuselage corrosion

[Carrieve]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

I rebuilt my BC12-D over twenty years ago and it looked much worse than yours. I just started in with 4130, saws, files and my torches and worked at it. It is not an easy job but the worse part is just getting started. Hang in there, it can be done.

[fearofpavement]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

I used to fly float planes in that part of Louisiana. The crew washed all the aircraft every day when we were finished with flights in the brackish water. So if the plane was based there, it very likely had a salty exposure.

Just look at how many GOOD sections of tubing you have. So it's not like starting over. Fix it up, fly it.

[TimHicks]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Man, I would love to learn how to weld with a torch. But I just don't think that fits the realities of my life right now.

I have three leads working. One is a '46 fuselage for sale for $2000. It has been sandblasted and primed. No signs of corrosion. The owner invited me to inspect it with a hammer and steel punch. It's out of state, so it will take me a couple of weeks before I can get over to look at it. Any tips on how best to inspect a fuselage are appreciated. What to look for, potential difference from mine, etc.

The other two leads are a local dragster-builder and Steve Pierce in Texas (a 10+hour drive away). The dragster-builder is nationally known for his high-quality 4130 frames. And he's repaired airplane fuselages before. He said he has a 20' foot long jig that he uses to to hold everything in alignment. It's the same jig he uses for racecars, so it must be pretty adaptable. His shop is just a couple miles from my office. Both the dragster-builder and Steve Pierce are swamped with work right now and have a backlog.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Can you get the serial number from the fuselage you are looking to buy? By comparing numbers with yours we can see if they were built near the same time. At least it could give you an idea of how they may be different by looking at the manufacture times for the different blocks of planes.
Hank

[cvavon]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim I know i told you about Steve but if i could get it done that close to home that would be my choice as if he has a problem your close and can make a decision quick

[M Towsley]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim,

Another thought on the out-of-town fuse. See if any of our forum members are close and have the ability, or know someone who does, to look at it for you. At least gives you an idea if it is feasible.

[mikerice]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim-
I drive to Austin to Houston and back and can bring a trailer to haul your fuselage. Austin is about 4 hours to Graham I think. I also have a complete Tcraft Project on Barnstormers but it is the whole plane (less engine and prop).
We have a hangar near Hobby Airport you can stow the fuselage, so we do not have to coordinate the handoff. Looks to me like the repairs to your fuselage will approach the 2K new fuselage deal in cost, and would take time if the shops are busy. Of course you could work the wings while waiting on the fuselage...

For Reference:
Taylorcraft Rebuild Project

TAYLORCRAFT REBUILD PROJECT • $3,450 • REBUILDER FOR SALE • Taylorcraft BC12D Project - No engine or prop. Current Registration and logbooks. In dry storage many years: no corrosion or wood rot on spars. Has control cables, instruments and small parts. No visible rust on original struts. Left gear needs bent tube replaced, no windshield. Located in Dripping Springs TX. • Contact Mike Rice - AEROLEARN, INC., Owner - located Austin, TX USA • Telephone: 512 736-1705 . • Fax: 512 828-6860 • Posted September 26, 2012 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

[TimHicks]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Mike,
Thanks for being so generous with your time and resources.
The fuselage for sale is in Houston. If you're going to be there in the next couple of weeks, would you mind taking a look at it for me (as Marty suggested)?
If so, contact me by email at tim (dot) hicks (at) intralox (dot) com
I actually spent the last year working on the wings. So the wings, ailerons and tail surfaces are in storage, ready to be covered. My plan was to get the fuselage back together then cover and paint everything at more or less the same time. So, if I stick to this plan, the fuselage is the bottleneck.

Also, for the whole tribe, if I do decide to get a different fuselage, what is the paperwork process to do so? Is it just an entry in the logbook by my IA? Or is there stuff that needs to be filed with OKC?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Changing out the fuselage is a major component and your IA will be the one signing it off so you need to talk to him. What he needs to look at (and most don't seem to bother doing) is that the fuselage is the same type as the plane is supposed to have. It can be different, but it is a lot easier to work on if it is at least in the same series. There are a LOT of planes out there with completely different wings, tails, engines and fuselages than they are supposed to have. A pre-war BL-65 will still work perfectly fine with a Continental engine, and wing tanks, and stamped post war rib wings, and a 4130 steel fuselage instead of the 1010 steel, and an elevator trim tab instead of the flipper, and sheet metal doors instead of the pre-war tube or wood ones......... You getting the picture? What IS the plane once you change things?
What N number and SN is your plane? What SN is the replacement fuselage? Do you want to restore yours to original or do you just want a good flying plane and don't mind having a "Frankenstein". Note that there is a lot of room between "original" and "Frankenstein" but what ever you do, DOCUMENT IT. You DO NOT want to have to go through an FAA conformity inspection and have them say your plane doesn't match the TC and is now just "Parts" with no legal status.
That isn't a reasonable thing for the FAA to do, but they CAN do it. Let's fill in the blanks and prevent it now. It is easy at this point to look at the original equipment list for your model and you can either return her to original or log entry any changes you want to leave on or add.
Hank

[crispy critter]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim,
Somthing else you might want to think about if you decide to go with a different fuslage.....yours has a modifacation that I wish I had thought of to do to Crispy with the rear seat bar moved back a couple inches, if you swap fuslages you will not have that anymore so your cockpit will seam a little more cramped....just a thought.

[mikerice]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim-
I will make a trip to Houston some time in Oct. if you need me to transport or inspect some thing for you. I will be taking a 16 foot trailer from Austin to Houston to pick some parts.

Since you have your wings ready, it sounds like a replacement fuselage gets you moving the fastest...

[TimHicks]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Yesterday, my IA informed me that he was ready to tackle the project of replacing all the corroded tubing on my fuselage.
This is great news to me. Previously, it looked like he wouldn't have time to do this.

It means that, when I'm reassembling the fuse, I know everything will fit (not sure, if I had gotten a different fuse). It means that I'll retain the seatback mod that Kevin is talking about (important for 6'-4", 220# pilots like me).

My IA is an excellent welder, so I'm thrilled to have his good quality.
And I'm glad that I don't have to drag a trailer all over the Gulf South to find a new fuse or a repair station.

I brought the fuselage to his shop last night. He's got one small welding project to finish first (an aluminum towbar for a Stearman). Then he gets started on mine. He's planning to make a fuselage rotator jig (that I'll be able to use when covering) in the process.

One question, does anyone know the wall thickness of the 1" OD horizontal cross tube that runs between the leading attach points of the left and the right landing gear? My IA knows everything else and has most of the material already to fix the other tubes.

[cvavon]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

Tim that is grate news !

[3Dreaming]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

I don't know, but if you are going to have to repair or replace the tube then drill a hole in it and measure the wall thickness.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Fuselage corrosion

If he will let you, GET INVOLVED! You can do the cutting and fitting of the new tubes and cut the work he has to do significantly. In the process you will learn SO MUCH about your plane and how it is built. The experience will serve you every time you fly her or work on her. If you are lucky, you will also know how to weld when you are done and may be well on your way to being an IA some day too.
Hank