Happy New Year!

We returned from visiting family in Indiana last night. We had hoped to take a Bonanza, but ended up driving due to weather (ice potential). As the saying goes, I would much rather be driving and wishing I were flying, than flying and wishing I were driving.

Stinson 98K was on the receiving end in Indy, too. The attached picture is at my parent's house were I received a cowhide of leather for 98k's seats. It is Citation Caramel, which I believe Debbie helped obtain through The Yard here in Wichita. I was amazed at how large a cowhide is! I was commenting on this when someone suggested the hides get stretched...so, maybe Kansas cows are not as gigantic as I imagined. I also received some money from Debbie's parents which I plan to use for new fuel lines, new hinges for the baggage door, and other goodies from Univair.

Hope you have a safe and happy new year!

Merry Christmas - 2009

It dawned a bright and sunny day in Wichita (with wind chills below zero), after snow and winds in excess of 40 mph yesterday and throughout the night. The good thing for us was there was more wind than snow, so I think I can skip shoveling. Yea! You can see from the photo we have a white Christmas.

The other photo shows Santa dropped off a few items for 98K under the Christmas tree. Included are some T-nuts, which go in the area at the top of the windshield, and a Sigtronics intercom! I also received safety wire pliers from Kristin.

Hope you also have a Merry Christmas!

Floor Boards Installed

I spent part of yesterday and today getting the spring clips cleaned and primed, and then installing the floor boards under the front seats and then in the foot well area. The spring clips hold Tinnerman nuts for the screws to grip that hold down the floorboards. I also installed the vertical pieces of wood that finish the sealing up of the landing gear oleo area. Here are a few shots. I think I said this in a previous post when I was doing a trial fit of the floor boards, but it is a shame all this nice looking wood will be covered by carpet!

Gear Strut Cover Painted

Today I cleaned the cover that goes above the landing gear struts with MEK and then primed and painted it. I also varnished the wood that covers the vertical opening on the back side of this gear strut cover. I'll install the wood tomorrow. Here is a before and after shot. The bumps in the cover are to make room for the the top of the oleo struts. I also made it to Air Parts and The Yard to pick up a few things.

Done with real work for 2009

Friday was my last day to work for 2009. Between furlough and holiday time off, I am done until January 4! So, there should be ample time to have fun with the family, relax, and get a few more items completed on 98K.

In the last day or two, I have been installing a fairing that goes around the upper gear leg area. 98K did not have these when I took it apart, so I ordered them from Univair several weeks ago, and have been pondering how exactly they go on. Wade directed me to another Stinson restoration web site that shed some light on the subject, but there was still some doubt in my mind. The left picture shows the final product. The shiny part is the fairing. I ended up using a clamp to attach the forward end to a fuselage steel tube, rather than drill another hole in the steel tube post. I think this fairing will do the job. It is primarily there to help give the fabric something to attach to and form a better look. Another aerodynamic fairing on the gear leg also attaches to it. I also installed a fairing that runs back along the lower steel tube next to the floor boards, also visible in the picture (painted with dark epoxy primer).

Next I installed the wood in the aft cabin that the headliner supports attach to, as pictured on the right. This was one of the pieces my friend Jim made. I have a few hardware items to pick up tomorrow at Air Parts; with those I should be able to stay busy until Santa arrives.

New Brake Lines Made

I knew I would need new flexible brake lines that go between the fuselage and the landing gear as the ones in 98K no longer flexed. I checked with Univair and it was going to be about $140 for each (I need two). Wade told me what parts to order from Aircraft Spruce and I followed AC 43.13 and made my own for about $30 each. Quite a savings and I have learned yet another skill! Shown are the old and the new.

In other news, Kristin flew in today from Atlanta for Christmas. Willy decided to hang out with her instead of with me in the cold garage making brake lines. Kala is finishing finals today and should be home tomorrow from KSU.

Back in the Picture Business

I got my camera back from the repair shop today. As you may recall from a previous post, the shutter release button went out the window while doing some aerial photography about 5 weeks ago. It's like having an old friend back! So, now I can once again post trivial photos related to my restoration activities.

I got a shipment from Aircraft Spruce earlier this week. Among the items was some SCAT tubing for the heater system. Also some clamps to hold a section of aluminum pipe that runs under the front seats. Wade suggested using a double clamp approach to clamp the 2 inch diameter heater tube to one of the fuselage steel tube cross members. This is shown in the left picture and worked quite well. I clamped the tube in two places.

The picture on the right is of the flexible SCAT tubing connecting the back seat vent to the 2 inch aluminum tube.

Temperatures in the garage were around 52 today. Not bad compared to earlier this week when the outside temperature was in single digits. I didn't even bother to go into the garage to check the temperature! I also received the parts to make my flexible brake lines from Aircraft Spruce, so that will be on the agenda next. Should be interesting.

Two Years! A Time for Reflection

As Kansas prepares for the first measurable snow fall for this season, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on where this project is and where it is going. The photo is from 2 years ago on December 8, 2007 when 98K rolled across Wichita in the first winter storm of that season, picking up a quarter inch of ice before being safely tucked away in my garage that day.

A lot has been accomplished since then. Approximately 315 hours have been spent on the restoration. I originally guessed it would take 500 total, so that would say I am about 60% done. My original target completion date is Oshkosh 2010, so that would say I should be 75% done by now. Looking at the cash flow so far would say I am 35% done. I have also posted 173 messages on this blog (I should probably spend more time doing real work).

What does it all mean? I am behind schedule and under budget. Yea right! As many have told me, it will take longer and cost more than you ever imagined. They may be right. But, we'll see how close we can get while being safe about it. I still plan to get the fuselage to a state where it is ready for cover near the end of the year, and then turn my attention to the wings. They are not as bad off as the fuselage was, so maybe I can have them ready to cover as well by the time the warmer spring days arrive. Then it will be one big covering party! Stay tuned!